Portable presentation system and methods for use therewith

ABSTRACT

A presentation system and method for presenting information to an audience within a space hat includes a plurality of mobile projectors and a master presentation unit that can be moved into a presentation space and associated where the projectors and master unit are quickly linkable via a network and where the master unit expedites the system configuration process to allow the system user to manipulate images presented by all of the projectors.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/446,019 which was filed on Jun. 2, 2006 and which isentitled “Virtual Flip Chart Method And Apparatus” which is acontinuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/096,969which was filed on Apr. 1, 2005 and which is titled “Virtual Flip ChartMethod And Apparatus” which is a continuation in part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/816,537 which was filed on Apr. 1, 2004 andwhich is titled “Virtual Flip Chart Method And Apparatus”. Thisapplication is also related to U.S. provisional patent No. 60/687,389that was filed on Jun. 2, 2005 that is titled “Virtual Flip Chart MethodAnd Apparatus” and is related to U.S. provisional patent application No.60/771,908 that was filed on Feb. 9, 2006 and that is titled “VirtualFlip Chart Method And Apparatus”.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to interfaces for large scalepresentation systems and more specifically to interface features thatenable conference attendees to readily and intuitively share informationwithin a conference space and/or remotely.

The parent applications to this application that are referenced aboveand that are incorporated herein by reference teach a plurality ofconferencing systems, at least some of which include a masterpresentation unit and one or more slave presentation units that can beset up within a conference space (i.e., a conference room) for sharinginformation.

In at least some of the embodiments, the master unit includes a largescale flat panel display, a sensor system and a display processor. Theprocessor presents information via the display such as interfaces forsoftware applications, pictures, video, electronic whiteboard images,etc. The processor is linked to the sensor system for receivinginformation indicative of user activity adjacent/on the display screenand for performing functions associated with the received informationand the nature of the activity. For example, where a system operator(i.e., a conference presenter) uses a mechanical stylus as a pen deviceto draw on the screen, the processor may be programmed to providevirtual ink markings that follow movements of the stylus tip. Similarly,where an application interface is provided on the screen that includesselectable button icons, the processor may be programmed to sense whenthe stylus is used to contact the screen at a location corresponding tothe button icon and may then cause an activity associated with selectionof the icon to be performed.

The slave presentation units are also large scale units that includesome type of presentation surface that is typically as large or largerthan the master unit display screen. The slave units are meant to bepositioned adjacent the master unit for viewing by persons within theconferencing space. In at least some inventive embodiments a master unitoperator can use the master unit to indicate that information presentedvia the master unit should be presented via one of the slave units. Whenan operator indicates that master unit information should be displayedvia one of the slave units, the master unit information is so displayed.Thus, the master-slave system is, in at least some respects, akin to aconventional paper based flip chart where the master unit is useable tocreate and modify images and the slave units are usable to displayimages of interest after the images are created.

In at least some embodiments the slave units include one or moreprojectors, each projector projecting one or more slave images on aslave presentation surface. In at least some embodiments two or moremaster/slave sub-systems can be linked via a network so that conferenceattendees in remote locations can all simultaneously view the sameimages.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

At lease one embodiment includes a method for configuring presentationunits for cooperative activities, the method comprising the steps ofproviding a master presentation unit including a display and at leastone input device in a conference space, providing a processor associatedwith the master presentation unit, moving a plurality of portableprojectors within the conference space, associating the masterpresentation unit with at least a subset of the projectors within theconference space wherein the associated subset of projectors includes atleast two projectors, presenting an image via the master presentationunit display, providing a control interface via the master presentationunit display for designating any one of the projectors from theassociated subset that should display the image presented via the masterpresentation unit, and when a projector is designated to display theimage from the master presentation unit, using the designated projectorto project the image from the master presentation unit onto apresentation space within the conference space.

In come cases the step of associating the master presentation unit witha subset of the projectors includes presenting a list of the projectorsvia the master presentation unit display and receiving selectionsdesignating the subset of projectors via the master presentation unitinput device. Some embodiments further include the step of providing asensor system for determining which projectors are in the conferencespace. In some cases each of the projectors includes an identificationtag and wherein the sensor system includes at least a first tag readerfor reading the identification tag. In some cases the ID tag is an RF IDtag and the sensor is an RF sensor.

In some cases the step of providing a plurality of projectors in theconference space includes providing projectors that each include awireless transmitter, the step of associating further includes the stepof causing the projectors in the space to transmit unique projectoridentifiers to the master presentation unit, the step of presenting alist including presenting a list including a separate entry for each ofthe unique projector identifiers received by the master presentationunit.

In some cases each of the projectors projects at least first and secondimages onto at least first and second presentation spaces, respectively,and wherein the step of providing a control interface includes providingan interface that facilitates designation of any of the first and secondpresentation spaces associated with any of the projectors. In some casesthe step of providing a control interface includes providing aninterface that enables designation of any of the images presented by anyof the projectors to be represented by the master presentation unit viathe master presentation unit display.

In some embodiments the step of moving a plurality of projector unitsinto the conference space includes providing each projector unit on aseparate projector cart wherein each cart includes wheels to facilitatetransport of the projector and moving the carts and projectors into theconference space.

In some cases the step of associating the master presentation unit witha subset of the projectors includes mechanically linking each of thecarts to the master presentation unit. In some cases the step of movingthe carts includes arranging the carts in a side-by-side fashion andwherein the step of mechanically linking includes connectingcommunication cables between the master presentation unit and theprojectors.

In some cases the step of mechanically linking further includesconnecting power cables between the mater presentation unit and theprojectors.

Some cases further include the steps of arranging the carts associatedwith the associated subset of projectors in a side-by-side fashion andmechanically linking adjacent carts to form a cart chain for transport.

At lease some embodiments include a portable assembly for use with adata cable that includes a data connector, the assembly also for usewith a member that forms a presentation surface, the assembly comprisinga cart including a support member forming a support surface, wheelssupporting the support surface and facilitating movement of the cart, afirst data port supported by the cart and configured to receive the dataconnector, and a projector supported by the support surface and linkedto the first data port, the projector arranged to project images ontothe presentation surface adjacent the cart.

Some embodiments include a portable assembly for use with a power cablethat includes a power connector and a data cable that includes a dataconnector, the assembly comprising a cart including first and secondsubstantially vertical lateral wall members spaced apart on oppositesides of an internal chamber, each of the lateral wall members having anupper edge, a substantially vertical rear wall member that extendsbetween and is substantially perpendicular to the first and secondlateral wall members, at least one of a door member and a front wallmember that extends between and is substantially perpendicular to thefirst and second lateral wall members, wheels that support the first andsecond lateral wall members and the rear wall member and that facilitatemovement of the cart, a substantially horizontal transparent top membersupported by the wall members proximate the top edges of the lateralwall members, and a first data port supported by the cart and configuredto receive the data connector.

In some cases the assembly is also for use with a member that forms asubstantially vertical presentation surface, the assembly furtherincluding a projector supported by the wall members and linked to thefirst power port and the first data port, the projector arranged toproject images through the transparent top member and onto thepresentation surface adjacent the cart. In some cases the assemblyfurther includes a support member supported by the wall members withinthe internal chamber and spaced apart from the upper edges of thelateral wall members so that an upper chamber is formed above thesupport member and below the transparent top member, the projectorsupported by the support member.

Still other embodiments include an image presentation kit system for usewith a substantially vertical member that forms a presentation surface,the assembly comprising a master presentation unit including an inputdevice and a display screen. a processor associated with the masterunit, at least first and second portable projector carts that includewheels for moving the carts within a conference space, each cart alsoincluding a projector juxtaposed to project images onto the presentationsurface when the cart is positioned adjacent the presentation surface,and a network for linking the processor to each of the portableprojectors. In some cases the network is wireless.

Some other embodiments include a method for configuring a presentationsystem for displaying images, the method comprising the steps ofproviding a master presentation unit including a display and at leastone input device in a conference space, providing a processor associatedwith the master presentation unit, moving a plurality of portableprojectors within the conference space, using a mechanical network tomechanically link at least a subset of the projectors to the processorwherein the associated subset of projectors includes at least twoprojectors, using the processor to poll the network to identify thenumber of projectors linked thereto and the logical locations of theprojectors on the network, and configuring the processor to provide aninterface display screen via the master presentation unit display toenable control of the images presented by each of the linked projectorsusing the master presentation unit input device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary flipchart mimicking systemaccording to one embodiment of the present invention including a masterpresentation unit and first and second slave presentation units;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the master presentation unitof FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic partial cross sectional view of the master unit ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one of the slave units of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a schematic partial cross sectional view of the slavepresentation unit of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a slave unit thatmay be used with the master unit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to the view of FIG. 5, albeit illustratinganother exemplary slave presentation unit design;

FIG. 8 is a similar to FIG. 7 albeit illustrating one additional slavepresentation unit;

FIG. 9 is similar to FIG. 7 albeit illustrating yet one more slavepresentation unit embodiment;

FIG. 10 a is a perspective view of a handheld interface unit shown inFIG. 1;

FIG. 10 b is a schematic view of components that make up one embodimentof the interface unit of FIG. 10 a;

FIG. 11 is similar to FIG. 1, albeit illustrating a system that includesa different type of slave presentation unit;

FIG. 12 is similar to FIG. 1, albeit illustrating slave presentationunits that include flat panel displays;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a flipping method according to oneaspect of the present invention that may be used with any one of thesystems shown in FIGS. 1 through 12;

FIG. 14 is a sub-process that may be substituted for a portion of themethod illustrated in FIG. 13 for retrieving images from a slave unitand re-presenting the images via the master unit;

FIG. 15 is a method for flipping images from a master unit to a slaveunit and thereafter retrieving an image from a slave unit where theslave unit is uniquely identifiable;

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a method whereby images currentlydisplayed via a master presentation unit and slave presentation unitsmay be quickly stored and subsequently re-accessed and re-presented viathe same units on which the images were presented prior to being saved;

FIG. 17 is similar to FIG. 2, albeit illustrating a master unit thatincludes a different compliment of control buttons;

FIG. 18 is a plan view of a system consistent with certain aspects ofthe present invention including a single presentation unit that dividessurface space into a plurality of presentation surfaces that can be usedto mimic flip chart activity;

FIG. 19 is similar to FIG. 18, albeit illustrating a different systemwherein presented images are managed in a different manner;

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of another inventive embodiment includingthree projectors and associated projection screens/assemblies;

FIG. 21 illustrates yet another embodiment where a master unit is in theform of an easel assembly and slave units are wall mounted;

FIG. 22 is a schematic illustrating a system where an interface unit isused to remotely control a presentation using remotely located masterand slave units;

FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram illustrating one additional exemplaryinventive system including a single projector that projects a main imageand two flipped images;

FIG. 24 is a schematic diagram illustrating another exemplary systemincluding multiple portable flat panel displays where one of thedisplays can be selected as a master display and the others or a subsetthere are used as slave display;

FIG. 25 is a flow chart illustrating another method according to atleast some aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 26 is similar to FIG. 24, albeit illustrating the system after oneof the portable units has been selected as a master unit;

FIG. 27 is similar to FIG. 26, albeit wherein the system is shown afterslave units have been selected;

FIG. 28 illustrates another embodiment including a single flat paneldisplay portable unit and multiple projectors for projecting flippedimages;

FIG. 29 is a schematic view of a system including two subsystems likethe configuration of FIG. 28 that are linked by a wide area network;

FIG. 30 is a schematic diagram of a system like the system illustratedin FIG. 28 wherein a flat panel display is mounted for rotation betweena portrait orientation and a landscape orientation, in FIG. 30 thedisplay is shown in the portrait orientation;

FIG. 31 is similar to FIG. 30, albeit illustrating the system where thedisplay is in the landscape orientation;

FIG. 32 is a schematic diagram of a 16:9 aspect ratio screenshot in aportrait orientation that may be presented via a master unit accordingto at least one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 33 is a schematic view of four slave images that may be presentedvia a slave presentation space according to at least some aspects of thepresent invention;

FIG. 34 is a schematic diagram of a screenshot that may be provided viaone of the laptop computers illustrated in FIG. 29;

FIG. 35 is a schematic diagram illustrating the tool area of FIG. 32 ingreater detail;

FIG. 36 is a schematic diagram similar to the diagram of FIG. 32, albeitillustrating additional information provided in a workspace area;

FIG. 37 is similar to FIG. 32, albeit illustrating an initial image in areduced size and additional information added to a workspace area;

FIG. 38 is a schematic diagram similar to the diagram of FIG. 32, albeitillustrating an activity corresponding to movement of some of theinformation from a workspace area to a panel icon;

FIG. 39 is similar to FIG. 38, albeit illustrating an image in aworkspace area to which information has been moved;

FIG. 40 is a schematic diagram similar to the diagram of FIG. 32, albeitillustrating a 16:9 aspect ratio screenshot after a display unit hasbeen rotated from a portrait orientation to a landscape orientation;

FIG. 41 is similar to FIG. 33, albeit illustrating slave images in alandscape orientation;

FIG. 42 is a schematic diagram similar to the diagram of FIG. 32, albeitillustrating a 4:3 aspect ratio screenshot in a portrait orientation;

FIG. 43 is similar to FIG. 42, albeit illustrating a 4:3 aspect ratioscreenshot in a landscape orientation;

FIG. 44 is a schematic illustrating another exemplary tool area similarto the area illustrated in FIG. 35 as well as six slave presentationspaces associated with panel icons at the tool area;

FIG. 45 is similar to FIG. 44 albeit illustrating the tool area andassociated slave presentation spaces in a different state;

FIG. 46 illustrates the tool area of FIG. 44, albeit in a differentstate;

FIG. 47 is similar to FIG. 44, albeit illustrating the tool area andslave presentation spaces in another state;

FIG. 48 is similar to FIG. 46, albeit illustrating the tool area inanother state.

FIG. 49 is similar to FIG. 44, albeit illustrating a tool area and slavepresentation spaces in yet another state;

FIG. 50 illustrates another version of the tool area of FIG. 44 thatincludes both primary and secondary slave representation areas as wellas two different sets of slave presentation spaces corresponding to twolinked remote systems according to at least some inventive embodiments;

FIG. 51 illustrates a tool area, albeit including a relatively largerslave representation area;

FIG. 52 is a screen shot including a print window according to at leastsome inventive embodiments;

FIG. 53 is a flowchart illustrating a method for identifying printingdevices associated with networked computer devices;

FIG. 54 is a flowchart illustrating a print method according to at leastsome inventive embodiments;

FIG. 55 is a schematic illustrating a room wizard that facilitatesdistribution of electronic copies of session images;

FIG. 56 is a flowchart illustrating a method for identifying and storinge-mail addresses of conference participants;

FIG. 57 is a flowchart illustrating a method for sending electronicversions of session images to conference attendees;

FIG. 58 is a prospective view of an exemplary portable andself-contained conference presentation unit;

FIG. 59 is similar to FIG. 58, albeit illustrating another portableembodiment;

FIG. 60 is a schematic diagram illustrating a display unit, a lightsensing device, a wireless receiver and illustrating a method forfacilitating interaction with a display surface where interactivity is afunction of the object used to interact with the surface;

FIG. 61 is a help feature according to at least some inventiveembodiments;

FIG. 62 is a schematic illustrating a master unit screenshot and aplurality of slave presentations spaces where a help function isemployed;

FIG. 63 is a schematic illustrating a system where projector brightnesscontrol is facilitated via a master unit screenshot;

FIG. 64 is a schematic of a system wherein a master unit screenshot isused to control room or environmental apparatus;

FIG. 65 is a screen shot that illustrates several additional featuresthat may be implemented via a master presentation unit;

FIG. 66 is similar to FIG. 65, albeit illustrating additional featuresand aspects of at least some embodiments;

FIG. 67 is a schematic of a tool area akin to the area illustrated inFIG. 44, albeit under different conditions;

FIG. 68 is similar to FIG. 67, albeit under different conditions;

FIG. 69 is similar to FIG. 67, albeit under yet another set ofconditions;

FIG. 70 is a perspective view of a credenza that includes a projectorassembly according to at least one inventive embodiment;

FIG. 71 shows the credenza assembly of FIG. 70 where a top member anddoor members have been removed;

FIG. 72 shows the credenza assembly of FIG. 70 from the side andadjacent a wall structure where a projector assembly is shown inphantom;

FIG. 73 is a screen shot similar to the image in FIG. 65, albeit where aframe or boundary line is shown in phantom that is used to determinewhen an image displayed in a workspace should be reduced in size toenable a user to add additional information along the peripheral edge ofthe image;

FIG. 74 is a screen shot similar to the image in FIG. 73, albeit wherethe image presented in a workspace has been reduced in size to enable auser to add additional information to the image at the peripheral edges;

FIG. 75 is a schematic illustrating a reduced size image and a shiftingactivity that can help a user realign a stylus tip with a recent imagealtering activity so that the activity can be continued;

FIG. 76 is a schematic similar to FIG. 75, albeit where the reduced sizeimage has been shifted to align with a stylus tip;

FIG. 77 is a screen shot illustrating a notes summary page that isconsistent with at least some contemplated embodiments;

FIG. 78 is a schematic illustrating an exemplary wireless portable kitsystem according to another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 79 is a perspective view of one of the portable projector carts ofFIG. 78;

FIG. 80 is similar to FIG. 79, albeit showing one of the doors of thecart in a closed position;

FIG. 81 is a side perspective view of the cart of FIG. 79, albeit withthe doors in the closed position;

FIG. 82 is a perspective view of the portable podium assembly of FIG.78;

FIG. 83 is a schematic view showing various components of the podiumassembly of FIG. 78;

FIG. 84 is a method that may be performed using the system of 78;

FIG. 85 is a subprocess that may be substituted for one of the methodsteps in the method of FIG. 84;

FIG. 86 is a schematic illustrating another kit assembly similar to theassembly of FIG. 78, albeit including hardwire cables connecting thesystem components together;

FIG. 87 is a partial side view of one of the carts of FIG. 86;

FIG. 88 is a partial perspective view of the power/data/video connectorcable shown in FIG. 87;

FIG. 89 is a schematic showing yet another kit system similar to the kitsystem of FIG. 78;

FIG. 90 is a schematic view showing how the components of the system inFIG. 89 are connected;

FIG. 91 shows one of the jumper cable assemblies of FIG. 90;

FIG. 92 is similar to FIG. 91, albeit showing a different embodiment ofthe jumper cable assembly

FIG. 93 is a perspective view of a set of portable projector carts thatare locked or secured together via clasps type assemblies; and

FIG. 94 is a subprocess that may be substituted for one of the steps inFIG. 84.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While the present invention may be embodied in any of several differentforms, the present invention is described here with the understandingthat the present disclosure is to be considered as setting forthexemplary embodiments of the present invention which are not intended tolimit the invention to the specific embodiment(s) illustrated.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference charactersrepresent similar elements throughout the several views and, morespecifically, referring to FIG. 1, while the system components to bedescribed may be used in any space to present information to an audienceand/or to facilitate collaborative activity between a system operatorand an audience, in order to simplify this explanation, the systems andcomponents will be described in the context of an exemplary conferenceroom 11 including a presentation wall 12 generally located at a frontend of the conference room 11, a door 14 for entering and exiting theconference room 11 and a plurality of conference tables or desks, two ofwhich are identified by numerals 16 and 18, respectively. The tables 16and 18 are arranged as are seats (not illustrated) within room 11 so asto orient audience members within room 11 to easily observe informationpresented to the audience at the front of room 11 adjacent wall 12.

In at least some embodiments of the present invention, an elongatedhorizontal rail 40 is mounted to wall 12 at approximately 6 to 7 feetabove the floor within room 11 for either temporarily or permanentlysupporting master and slave presentation units adjacent wall 12.Referring also to FIG. 3, rail 40 has a height dimension H1 and a widthW1 that are perpendicular to the length of rail 40 and forms ahorizontal top surface 41. Rail 40 may be mounted to wall 12 in anysecure manner including bolts or the like and is held off the surface ofwall 12 such that distal ends (e.g., 74 in FIG. 3) of presentation unitmounting members to be described in greater detail below fit between thewall and a rear surface of rail 40.

Referring still to FIG. 1, an exemplary first system 10 includes amaster presentation unit 28 and first and second slave presentationunits 22 a and 22 b, respectively. As illustrated in FIG. 1, each of thepresentation units 28, 22 a, 22 b, etc., are mounted to and hang fromrail 40 adjacent wall 12 so that front presentation surfaces (generallyidentified by numeral 48 or numeral 48 followed by a lower case letter)are easily observable by an audience within room 11. Referring also toFIGS. 2 and 3, master presentation unit 28 is an electronicimage-forming device which, in the illustrated embodiment, includes aflat plasma or liquid crystal type display screen 48 mounted within arigid generally rectilinear and relatively thin plastic or metal housingassembly 52, a transceiver 20 and first and second mounting hooks ormembers 72, 74, respectively.

Referring also to FIG. 3, housing 52 includes oppositely facing frontand rear surfaces 53 and 55, respectively. Front surface 53 forms anopening 57 in which screen 48 is mounted so that a front surface 54thereof having a width dimension W2 and a height dimension H2 isobservable. Mounting members 72 and 74 extend from opposite lateralupper corners of rear surface 55 and extend downwardly at distal endsthereof so as to form channels 17 and 19 between rear surface 55 andfacing surfaces of the distal ends (one of the facing surfacesidentified by numeral 59 in FIG. 3). Each channel 17, 19, has a recessdimension R1 which is substantially similar to width dimension W1 ofrail 40 (see FIG. 3).

To mount master unit 28 to rail 40, as best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and3, unit 28 is lifted and positioned with respect to rail 40 such thatthe channels formed by members 72 and 74 are above rail 40. Thereafter,unit 28 is lowered until sections of rail 40 are received within thechannels formed by members 72 and 74 and so that members 72 and 74 aregenerally supported on the top rail surface 41 (see FIG. 3). Althoughnot illustrated, one or more additional extension member may be providedthat extends from rear surface 55 proximate the bottom end thereof tocontact the wall 12 surface and stabilize unit 28 in a substantiallyvertical orientation.

Referring again to FIG. 3, in addition to the components describedabove, exemplary master presentation unit 28 includes a processor 80, akeyboard or other type of control interface 30 (i.e., the keyboard isnot necessary where interactivity is provided via other means such asselectable on-screen icons, etc.) and a digital memory 88. Processor 80and memory 88 are mounted within cavity 61 formed by housing 52 whilekeyboard 30 includes keys supported by the housing structure. Processor80 is linked to each of transceiver 20, display screen 48, keyboard 30and memory 88 via a plurality of data busses (not labeled). Generally,transceiver 20 is capable of transmitting and receiving information viaany of several different wireless technologies (e.g., RF, infrared,etc.) and via any of several different wireless communication protocols(e.g., 802.11b, Bluetooth, etc.) within the vicinity of transceiver 20(e.g., within the space defined by a conference room 11).

Memory 88 is a digital memory device and includes a plurality ofdifferent types of information usable by processor 80 to perform variousmethods. Generally, the information stored in memory 88 takes two formsincluding programs run by processor 80 and data such as images presentedvia display screen 48. Programs run by processor 80 include, in at leastsome cases, position sensing programs for sensing the position ofvirtual ink pens and virtual ink type eraser devices used to addinformation to and delete information from screen 48 as well as displaydriver programs for presenting information via display 48.

In addition, memory 88 includes programs used to manage images presentvia display 48. For instance, in at least some embodiments of thepresent invention, a program in memory 88 may assign unique identifiernumbers or the like to each image flipped from unit 28 to one of theslave presentation units and may store each flipped image andcorresponding identifier number within memory 88 for subsequent access.As another instance, when an image is flipped to a specific one of theslave presentation units, the master unit processor 80 may be programmedto correlate and store the flipped image with a unit identifier thatuniquely identifies the slave unit to which the image is being flipped.After an identifier and an image is stored in memory 88, the image maybe accessed via reference to the unique identifier.

Moreover, in at least some embodiments of the present invention, copiesof conventional software applications such as PowerPoint, various spreadsheet applications, CAD applications, word processor applications,internet browser applications, etc., may be stored within memory 88 foraccess and running by processor 80. Here, it should be appreciated that,in at least some embodiments of the invention, conventional softwareapplications may not be useable with system 10 and in that case, copiesof the conventional software applications would not be stored in memory88. Moreover, it should be appreciated that, in at least someembodiments of the invention, software applications such as PowerPoint,spreadsheets and the like may be stored in or accessed via a palm orlaptop type computer useable with master presentation unit 28 so that,while processor 80 is used to display images corresponding toconventional software applications, processor 80 itself does not run thesoftware applications. Here, the computer would run the programs andprovide information to processor 80 to drive the display 48.

Referring still to FIG. 3, control interface 30 may include varioustypes of input devices. For instance, in at least some embodiments ofthe invention, it is contemplated that mechanical hardware type buttonslike the keys illustrated in FIG. 2 may be provided within the frontsurface 53 of housing 52 for providing commands to processor 80 such asflip commands (i.e., commands that indicate that an image currently ondisplay 48 should be transmitted to slave presentation units and thenremoved from display 48) and other data access and program controlcommands. In the alternative, or in addition to hardware type buttons,in at least some embodiments of the invention, it is contemplated thattouch selectable icons may be provided on display screen 48 forselection by a system operator which, when selected, provide commandsignals to processor 80 to perform processes. In some cases the inputdevice 30 may include image augmentation capabilities (i.e., be in partan augment interface) so that marks can be added to an image on screen48 or deleted. To this end, see U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/452,178 which was filed on Jun. 2, 2003 that is entitled “ElectronicWhiteboard” and which is incorporated herein in its entirety byreference. In the alternative, in at least some embodiments of theinvention, input to master unit 28 may always be via a palm or laptoptype computing device (e.g., a portable control interface) wherecommands to processor 80 are received via transceiver 20.

Hereinafter, unless indicated otherwise, in order to simplify thisexplanation, it will be assumed that the master unit 28 includes amechanical type keyboard 30. In addition, unless indicated otherwise,palm and laptop computers and control devices will be referred togenerally as hand held devices (HHDs). Moreover, while unit and devicecommunication may be wired, it will be assumed here that all unit anddevice communication is via a wireless protocol and transceivers (e.g.,20 in FIG. 2).

Referring once again to FIGS. 1 and 2, exemplary master unit keyboardkeys include a resume key 56, a send or Flip key 58, a store key 60, aretrieve key 62, a left send key 68, a right send key 70, and a numberpad 67. The selectable keys described and illustrated herein are onlyexemplary and, in many cases, additional selectable keys or a subset ofthe keys described herein may be provided via display 48, the selectablekey set being dependent upon the functions supported by the system 10and, in at least some cases, the relative juxtaposition of systemcomponents. In addition, where conventional software programs are run byprocessor 80 or where display 48 is used as a large display for an HHDrunning conventional software programs, mouse or touch selectable iconsrequired to support the software applications may appear on display 48.

Referring still to FIGS. 1 and 2, in at least some cases, it iscontemplated that master presentation unit 28 may be positioned to oneside of the slave presentation units 22 a, 22 b, etc. relative to anaudience viewing the units within room 11. In this case, to flip animage from display 48 to one of the slave presentation units 22 a, 22 b,etc., there must be some way to specifically identify the slave unit toreceive the flipped image. In the exemplary embodiment described herein,unique slave unit identifiers “1” and “2” are provided on each one ofthe slave units 22 a, 22 b, etc., which are easily viewable by a systemoperator when the operator is in a position to facilitate collaborativeactivity by interacting with master unit 28. In FIG. 1, the unitidentifiers “1” and “2” are permanently printed at one end of each ofthe unit housing assemblies.

In the present example, processor 80 is programmed to monitor keyboard30 for an indication that the image on display 48 is to be flipped toone of units 22 a or 22 b. In this case, it is contemplated that, toflip an image to one of units 22 a or 22 b, a system operator usesnumber 67 to select the unit identifier number corresponding to the unitto which the image is to be flipped and subsequently selects send key58. For example, to flip an image from display 48 to unit 22 a, theoperator uses pad 67 to select number “1” and then selects key 58.Similarly, to flip an image to unit 22 b, the operator selects number“2” from pad 67 and subsequently selects send key 58.

Here, it is assumed that each separately addressable slave units andalso, in some embodiments, master unit 28, has a unique network addressthat can be used to send data thereto. For instance, in FIG. 1, slaveunits 22 a and 22 b may be assigned unique wireless addresses“XP45519784” and “QZ1433217”, respectively, while master unit 28 isassigned address “AM7966142”. The addresses of slave screens arecorrelated with the unique salve unit identifiers (e.g., “1” and “2” inthe present example) and the correlated addresses and identifiers arestored in master unit memory 88. In addition, processors in each of theslave units 22 a, 22 b, etc., are programmed to monitor for and receivewireless signals sent to their respective network addresses. When aslave unit is selected as a target for a flipped image, processor 80identifies the network address associated with the target slave unit,generates an image data packet including the image and the address ofthe target slave unit, transmits the data packet to the selected slaveunit and then, in at best some embodiments, erases the image fromdisplay 48 (i.e., blanks display 48) or otherwise renders the imageun-observable via display 48 to provide a clean and clear surface 48 ina manner that mimics a conventional paper pad type flip chart. In otherembodiments a second affirmative step may be required to render themaster image un-observable.

In at least some embodiments of the present invention, masterpresentation unit 28 is also useable to retrieve images presented viathe slave presentation units 22 a, 22 b, etc., so that those images canbe edited and then represented via the slave units in the edited form.To this end, referring still to FIGS. 1 through 3, when an image isflipped from master unit 28 to one of the slave units 22 a, 22 b, etc.,in at least some inventive embodiments, the image data received by theslave unit is temporarily stored in a slave unit memory (see 119 in FIG.5).

After an image is presented via a slave unit, if a system operator wantsto edit that image, in a manner similar to the manner described abovefor flipping an image to unit 22 b, the system operator uses number pad67 to select the identifier number corresponding to the slave unit andthen selects retrieve key 62. When retrieve key 62 is selected, masterprocessor 80 forms a retrieve data packet including an image retrieverequest and the address of the slave unit from which to retrieve theimage and wirelessly transmits the retrieve data packet to the slaveunit. In response, the slave unit generates an image data packetincluding the slave image and the network address of the master unit andtransmits the image data packet back to the master unit 28. When unit 28receives the image data packet, master unit 28 re-presents the image viadisplay 48 for further collaborative viewing/editing.

Instead of accessing slave images from slave unit memories as describedabove, in at least some inventive embodiments, when master unit 28 flipsan image to a slave unit, the image may be correlated with and storedwith the unique slave unit identifier in master unit memory 88.Thereafter, when an operator wants to represent a slave image via masterunit 28 for editing or the like, the operator can select the appropriateslave unit identifier (i.e., the identifier number associated with theslave unit presenting the image to be re-accessed) via number pad 67followed by retrieve key 62 causing processor 80 to access thepreviously stored image in memory 88 and present the image via display48.

Referring yet again to FIGS. 1 through 3, according to at least oneaspect of the present invention, during a presentation or collaborativeactivity, after images are presented via one or more of the presentationunits 28, 22 a, 22 b, etc., if an operator wishes to cease apresentation with the intention of continuing the presentation at alater time, a function is provided whereby the operator can quicklystore all of the images currently presented via the presentation unitssuch that, upon resuming the presentation or collaborative activity, allof the currently presented images can be quickly and immediatelyre-presented via the presentation units in the same relativejuxtapositions. To this end, processor 80 may be programmed to monitorstore key 60 and, when icon 60 is selected, may correlate each of theunique presentation unit identifiers (e.g., “1”, “2”, etc., anidentifier uniquely associated with master unit 28, etc.) with the imagecurrently displayed by the corresponding presentation unit as animage-unit set and then to store the image-unit set in memory 88.Thereafter, to re-present the images via the master and slave units at asubsequent time, the operator may select resume key 56 after whichprocessor 80 accesses the image-unit set and re-presents those imagesvia the master and slave units.

Here, when an image-unit set is stored or is re-accessed, processor 80may be programmed to enable the operator to uniquely identify theimage-unit set by providing a name therefore useable to recognize thespecific image-unit set. In this case, more than one image-unit set maybe stored in memory 88 and subsequently unambiguously retrieved toresume presentations.

While images may be stored with unit identifiers, it should also beappreciated that similar results can be achieved by storing images alongwith network addresses when store key 60 is selected. Here, when asession is resumed, processor 80 simply accesses the stored images andaddresses and flips the images to the correlated addresses withouthaving to perform the intermediate step of correlating the unitidentifiers and addresses.

In at least some embodiments it is contemplated that the number of slaveunits used with a master unit will not change and that keys dedicated tospecific slave units and functions may be provided on keyboard 30. Forinstance, where a system 10 only includes one master unit 28 and twoslave units 22 a and 22 b, separate send and retrieve keys for each ofthe slave units 22 a and 22 b may be provided so that single keyselection can cause image flipping/retrieving. Similarly, referring onceagain to FIG. 1, in at least some cases, it is contemplated that amaster unit 28 may be positioned between two slave units (i.e., masterunit 28 and slave unit 22 a would be swapped so that unit 28 is betweenslave units 22 a and 22 b). In this case, simple left and right sendicons 68 and 70, respectively, may be used to flip images from masterunit 28 to the slave units to the left and right of the master unit,respectively. Although not illustrated, simple left and right retrievearrow icons similar to icons 68 and 70 may also be provided forretrieving images from the slave units to be re-presented via screen 48.

Referring once again to FIG. 1, in at least some embodiments of thepresent invention, each of the slave presentation units 22 a and 22 bwill have a similar construction and similar operation and therefore, inthe interest of simplifying the present explanation, only unit 22 a willbe described here in detail. Referring also to FIGS. 4 and 5, slavepresentation unit 22 a is a pull-out, roller window shade style unit andincludes a housing assembly 100 (hereinafter housing 100), a transceiver34 a, a rollable and unrollable presentation screen 38 a, first andsecond mounting members or hooks 102 and 104, respectively, a processor110, a motor 112, a powered screen spindle 114, a slave presenter/printapplicator that takes the form of a printer 116 in the present example,an eraser 118 and a memory 119. Housing 100 is generally a rigid boxshaped assembly that forms a cavity 105 between top and bottom walls 107and 109, respectively, and front and rear walls 111 and 113,respectively. The front wall 111 and rear wall 113 form opposite facingfront and rear surfaces 101 and 103, respectively. Bottom wall 109 formsa slit or opening 122 generally along the length of housing 100 throughwhich a lower end of screen 38 a extends. Each of mounting members 102and 104, like mounting members 72 and 74 that are secured to master unithousing 52, are secured to an extend rearwardly from the rear surface113 of housing 100 and extend from opposite ends of housing 100. Thedistal ends of each of members 102 and 104 extend downwardly such thatmember 102 forms a channel 117 and member 104 forms a channel 115 havinga channel dimension R2 which is similar to the width dimension W1 ofrail 40. Thus, as in the case of main unit 28, slave unit 22 a ismountable to rail 40 by placing members 102 and 104 over rail 40 so thatrail 40 is received within channels 115 and 117.

Transceiver 34 a is mounted to top wall 107 and extends upwardlytherefrom. Screen 38 a, in at least some embodiments of the presentinvention, is a flexible and rollable generally rectilinear member that,when unrolled, extends through opening 122 and there below to provide apresentation surface 48 a that faces in the same direction as frontsurface 101 of housing 100. In at least some embodiments, presentationsurface 48 a is a writable/erasable surface such as Mylar (trademarkedname of a polyester material developed and sold by DuPont) or the likeon which erasable ink can be printed or plotted and can subsequently beerased. In some cases, a weighted bar 106 may be mounted to a distallower end of screen 38 a that helps to maintain screen 38 asubstantially flat when screen 38 a is unrolled and extends belowhousing 100.

In the illustrated embodiment each of processor 110, motor 112, spindle114, printer 116 and eraser 118 is mounted within housing cavity 105.Processor 110 is linked to each of motor 112, printer 116 and eraser 118for controlling each of those components. Processor 110 is also linkedto memory 119 for accessing information therein and is linked totransceiver 34 a to send and receive data packets. Motor 112 is linkedto spindle 114 for rolling and unrolling slave screen 38 a which isattached at a top end to spindle 114.

Processor 110 controls printer 116 to, when an image is flipped to slaveunit 22 a from master unit 28, print the image on presentation surface48 a either as screen 38 a is being unrolled or, in the alternative, bymoving one or more printer heads adjacent to the surface 48 a whilemoving screen 38 a up and down via spindle. In any event, processor 110controls printer 116 to provide a rendition of the image flipped to unit22 a from master unit 28. In some cases the rendition will be in colorwhile in other cases it may be in black and white. In still other casesthe user may have the option to print in color or in black and white.

Eraser 118 is controlled by processor 110 to erase ink applied byprinter 116 to presentation surface 48 a. To this end, eraser 118 maysimply move back and forth along the length of housing 100 while holdingan eraser pad on surface 48 a as screen spindle 114 rolls up screen 38a. In the alternative, processor 110 may be able to control eraser 118to erase certain information from surface 48 a while leaving otherinformation on surface 48 a. Here, for instance, where a system operatorre-accesses an image from slave unit 22 a to be edited via master unit28, if the edit simply entails erasing a distinct part of the image viaunit 28 and then re-flipping the modified image back to unit 22 a, themodified image may be presented via unit 22 a by erasing the appropriateinformation from surface 48 a and unrolling screen 38 a so that themodified image is viewable via surface 48 a.

Thus, in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, when anoperator indicates that an image on master screen display 48 is to beflipped to unit 22 a, the image data packet is transmitted viatransceiver 22 to processor 110 via transceiver 34 a after whichprocessor 110 controls motor 112 and printer 116 to simultaneouslyunroll screen 38 a and apply ink to surface 48 a thereby forming theflipped image on surface 48 a. After an image has been formed on surface48 a, if the system operator flips another image to unit 22 a, processor110 first controls motor 112 and eraser 118 to roll up screen 38 a whilesimultaneously erasing the ink printed thereon. After surface 48 a hasbeen cleaned, processor 110 next controls motor 112 and printer 116 toagain apply ink to surface 48 a thereby providing the newly flippedimage on surface 48 a for the audience to view.

While it may take some time (e.g., thirty or more seconds) for one ofthe slave units 22 a or 22 b to erase an existing image and to apply inkforming a new image on surface 48 a, after an image is flipped frommaster unit 28, display 48 can be cleared immediately and used tocontinue the collaborative process. Thus, the delay in generating animage in the manner described above will not delay the collaborativeeffort.

Referring to FIG. 1, it should be appreciated that the dimensions of themaster display screen 48 and the portion of the slave screen 38 a thatis unrolled and used to present an image are similar such that an imageflipped to and presented via screen 38 a has a scale substantiallysimilar to the scale of the image that was originally presented viadisplay 48.

Referring still to FIGS. 1 through 5, it should be appreciated thatwhere the master and slave units 28 and 22 a, 22 b, etc., are removablefrom rail 40, the entire system described above can be easilytransported from one conference room 11 to another and can easily be setup by placing the mounting members that extend from the rear surfaces ofthe units over a rail in the other conference room similar to rail 40.During transport, the screens (e.g., 38 a) of the slave units can becompletely rolled up for protection and to provide a compactconfiguration.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a second embodiment of a slave presentationunit 120 is illustrated including a top header 122, a housing 124, atransceiver 130, a screen 126 and first and second mounting members 132and 134, respectively. Mounting members 132 and 134 are similar inconstruction and operation to mounting members 102 and 104 describedabove and therefore will not be described here in detail. Here, itshould suffice to say that members 132 and 134 extend from a rearsurface of header 122 for mounting unit 120 to a rail like rail 40described above.

In this second embodiment, screen 126 is rigidly secured to a lowersurface of header 122 and lower housing 124 forms an opening (notillustrated) through which a distal lower end of screen 126 extends andin which a screen spindle similar to spindle 114 described above withrespect to FIG. 5 is mounted. In addition, in this embodiment, theprocessor 110, motor 112, printer 116, memory 119 and eraser 118described above with respect to FIG. 5 are also mounted within housing124 and transceiver 130 extends upwardly from housing 124. Here, when animage is flipped from master unit 28 to slave unit 120, the image datapacket transmitted is received via transceiver 130 and the processor inhousing 124 simultaneously controls the motor and printer therein tounroll screen 126 and apply ink to surface 126 forming the flipped imagethereon as housing 124 descends (see arrow 128) below header 122. Anadvantage here is that the image can be printed from top to bottom.Similarly, when the image on surface 126 is to be erased, the processorinside housing 124 simultaneously controls the motor and eraser inhousing 124 to roll screen 126 up and erase ink from surface 126.

Referring now to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, three additional embodiments 171, 173and 175 of slave units that are similar to the slave unit of in FIG. 5are illustrated. In FIGS. 7 through 9, each of the slave units includesa processor 110, a motor or motivator of some type 112, a printer 118,an eraser 116, a memory (not illustrated), mounting members (e.g., 104)and a transceiver 34 a similar to those described above with respect toFIG. 5 and therefore, in the interest of simplifying this explanation,those components are not separately described again here. The primarydifference between the embodiments of FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 and theembodiment of FIG. 5 is in how the presentation screens are extended andretracted.

The embodiment of FIG. 7 is generally a pull-out endless loop style unitand includes both a powered spindle 151 and a freewheeling spindle 148.Powered spindle 151 is driven by motor 112 under the control ofprocessor 110. In FIG. 7, screen 144 is a continuous belt or loop typescreen that wraps around powered spindle 151 within housing 100 andextends downward and wraps around freewheeling spindle 148 below housing100 such that a front screen segment forms a front presentation surface155 and a rear screen segment forms a rear surface 159 facing in adirection opposite the direction of surface 155. In at least someembodiments, housing 100 forms two slit like openings 140 and 142 thatextend generally along the entire length of housing 100 to allow screen145 to pass therethrough.

In at least some embodiments, spindle 151 may be powered in eitherclockwise or counterclockwise direction so that screen 144 can move ineither direction up or down as indicated by arrow 146 and so thatfreewheeling spindle 148 can rotate in either clockwise orcounterclockwise directions as indicated by arrow 150. Here, in at leastsome embodiments of the present invention, when an image is flipped tounit 171, processor 110 controls the motor 112 and printer 116simultaneously to apply ink and form the image on screen 144 as spindle151 rotates in the clockwise direction. After an image is formed, theimage is viewable on front surface 155 between housing 100 andfreewheeling spindle 148. In this case, to erase the image, spindle 151may be rotated in the counterclockwise direction while eraser 118removes the ink from screen 144. In the alternative, to erase an imagefrom front surface 155, spindle 151 may be rotated in the clockwisedirection so that the image rotates about freewheeling spindle 148, backup toward and around powered spindle 151 and again down past eraser 118while eraser 118 erases the ink on the screen. In yet one otherembodiment that is not illustrated in FIG. 7, eraser 118 may bepositioned on the opposite side of screen 144 within housing 100 and maybe used to erase images presented thereto on screen 144 as section 155is moved up through opening 140.

Referring to FIG. 8, exemplary slave presentation unit 173 is a pull-outdrop loop style unit and includes a first powered spindle 163 and asecond powered spindle 165, both mounted within housing 100, as well asa freewheeling spindle 167 wherein first and second ends of apresentation screen 181 are mounted to and rolled around spindles 163and 165, respectively, and a central portion of screen 181 wraps aroundfreewheeling spindle 167 that hangs below housing 100. In this case, thepowered spindles 163 and 165 may be used to move a presentation surface183 of screen 181 either upward or downward as indicated by arrow 146and about spindle 167 in either direction as indicated by arrow 187. Asin the above slave unit embodiments, a printer 116 and an eraser 118 maybe controlled to apply ink to the presentation surface or to remove inktherefrom to reflect image flipping activity caused by interaction withmaster unit 28.

Referring now to FIG. 9, unit 175 is a pull-out accordion style unitsimilar to the units described above with respect to FIGS. 5, 7 and 8except that the spindles are replaced by a take up and let down assembly174 and the screen, instead of being a rollable screen member, is asegmented accordion type screen 172 including elongated horizontalscreen members, two of which are collectively identified by number 189,that are linked along horizontal elongated edges. Here, motivator 112 iscontrolled by processor 110 to let out the screen 172 adjacent printer116 and to take up the screen 172 adjacent eraser 118 as indicated byarrow 170.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 10 a and 10 b, an exemplary HHD interface unit200 includes a generally rectilinear and rigid plastic or metallichousing 199 that protects and supports other unit components including aprocessor 203, a display 204, a keyboard 209 and a transceiver 211.Processor 203 is linked to each of transceiver 211, screen 204, memory207 and keyboard 209 to receive information therefrom or provideinformation thereto, where appropriate. Processor 203 runs variousprograms stored in memory 207. In addition, in at least some embodimentsof the present invention, processor 203 may be able to access aconventional computer network (e.g., a local area network, a wide areanetwork, the Internet, etc.) via wireless communication with accesspoints mounted within or proximate conference room 11. Communicationbetween wireless devices like unit 200 and a network server via accesspoints is well known in the wireless communication arts and therefore,in the interest of simplifying this explanation, will not be describedhere in detail.

Keyboard 209 includes hardware keys that are akin to the keyboard keysdescribed above with respect to FIG. 2. Specifically, mechanical keys208, 210, 216 and 220 are akin to keys 56, 60, 62 and 58 described aboveand can be used to resume a presentation, store images associated with apresentation, retrieve images presented by slave units so they can bere-presented by the master unit 28 and to send images from the masterunit 28 to any one of the slave units, respectively. Number pad 214 isused in a manner similar to the number pad 67 described above withrespect to FIG. 2. For instance, to indicate a slave unit associatedwith identifier number “2” to which an image should be flipped, anoperator selects the “2” key from keyboard 209 followed by the send key220.

Left arrow key 222 is a send left key indicating, as its label implies,that an image currently presented via master unit 28 should be sent to aslave unit to the left of master unit 28. Similarly, right arrow key 228is a send right key indicating that an image currently displayed by themaster unit 28 should be sent to the slave unit to the right of themaster unit 28. Right directed arrow key 223 is a left retrieve keyindicating that the image currently presented on a slave unit to theleft of master unit 28 should be retrieved to the master unit anddisplayed thereby. Similarly, left directed arrow key 226 is a rightretrieve key indicating that an image currently presented by a slaveunit to the right of master unit 28 should be retrieved and displayedvia master unit 28.

In addition to the keys described above, an enter key 212 is providedvia unit 200 which can be used to indicate that information entered viaother keyboard keys should be acted upon. For example, in cases where apresentation is to be resumed and a specific seven digit number codemust be entered to access a specific previously stored image-unit set,after resume button 208 is selected, processor 203 may present a sessionidentification number field via display 204 in which a specific sequenceof seven numbers has to be entered in order to access the imagescorresponding to an image-unit set and present the images via thepresentation units. In at least some embodiments of the invention, it iscontemplated that unit 200 may include a full keyboard complimentincluding letters, numbers and function keys that are typically found ona computer keyboard so that unit 200 can, in effect, be used as acomplete laptop computer to interact with various software applications(e.g., Power Point, spreadsheet applications, word processorapplications, etc.).

Referring still to FIGS. 1 and 10 a, in at least some embodiments,screen 204 is a fully functional touch sensitive flat panel displayscreen which can be used to display virtually any type of visual imageincluding images corresponding to software applications, imagescorresponding to information applied to screen 204 via a stylus 202 orother similar types of interface tools and, in at least some cases,images that combine software generated images and applied information.Thus, for instance, when a Power Point slide is presented on display204, in at least some cases, a system operator may use stylus 202 tomake a mark (e.g., 229 in FIG. 10 a) on display 204 which is tracked byprocessor 203 and in response to which processor 203 changes the imageon display 204 so that the mark is represented. Here, the mark isreferred to as a virtual ink mark because the mark appears on display204 despite the fact that no real ink is applied to the surface ofscreen 204.

Importantly, according to one aspect of the present invention, theinformation presented via display 204 of control interface 200 isimmediately updated on the master display 48 of unit 28. Thus, while asystem operator may be anywhere within conference room 11 when using HHD200, the operator can use HHD 200 to modify the image displayed ondisplay 48 in a real time and collaborative flip chart like manner.After an image on display 48 is completed and when the operator wishesto flip the image from unit 28 to one of the slave units 22 a or 22 b inFIG. 1, the operator uses HHD 200 to flip the image to the appropriateslave unit. For instance, in the example illustrated in FIG. 1, to flipan image from master unit 28 to slave unit 22 a, the operator selectsthe “1” key on HHD 200 followed by send key 220. After send key 220 isselected, processor 203 forms a flip command data packet commanding animage flip to the selected slave unit and including the master unitnetwork address and transmits the flip command data packet to processor80 (see again FIG. 3) via transceivers 211 and 20. In response toreceiving the flip command, processor 80 forms an image data packetincluding the currently displayed image and transmits the image datapacket to the slave unit selected via HHD 200.

Referring still to FIGS. 10 a and 10 b and FIG. 1, unit 200 may be astand alone laptop computer and may provide the complete data processingplatform where master unit 28 is simply an output and input device.Here, for instance, programs to track interactivity with display 20 maybe run by unit 200 and unit 200 may simply provide display driving datato the master unit processor 80.

In addition, in this case, the unit 200 may completely organize theimage presentation and master unit 28 may not perform the flipping andretrieving processes. Here, for instance, unit 200 may store all of theimages including the images displayed by the master and slave units.When a presenter indicates via master unit 28 that the master image isto be flipped to a slave unit, the command may be received by unit 200which in turn causes the flip to occur via transmission of the masterimage to the designated slave unit. In addition, here, unit 200 may alsoautomatically transmit a command to the master unit to erase the flippedimage. Retrieval commands would also be performed via unit 200 asopposed to via the master processor 80.

Referring now to FIG. 11, a second exemplary system 230 according to atleast some aspects of the present invention is illustrated. System 230is shown in the context of a conference room like conference room 11described above with respect to FIG. 1 where presentation units 48 and232 are mounted on a rail 40 within the room for easy viewing ofassociated presentation surfaces by an audience. Here, master unit 28 issimilar to the master unit 28 described above with respect to FIG. 1with few differences. With respect to the differences, referring againto FIG. 3, master unit processor 80 in the FIG. 11 embodiment isprogrammed slightly differently than the processor described above withrespect to FIG. 1. More specifically, because there is only one slaveunit 232 in system 230, processor 80 is programmed to flip all images tosingle slave unit 232 when send commands are received.

Second, prior to flipping an image to slave unit 232, processor 80 isprogrammed to add an image identifier number to the flipped image which,in the example here, is added to the flipped image in the upper lefthand corner. For example, in FIG. 11, image identifier numbers “6” and“7” are associated with images presented on surfaces 250 and 248,respectively, and therefore, identifier numbers 6 and 7 have been addedto each of the images so that each image can be subsequently uniquelyidentified.

Third, prior to flipping an image to slave unit 232, processor 80correlates and stores the image and the image identifier number inmaster unit memory 88 for subsequent access. In the above exampleillustrated in FIG. 11, master unit processor 80 (see again FIG. 3)stores the image on surface 250 with identifier number 6 and similarlystores the image on surface 248 with identifier number 7 when each ofthose images is flipped to slave unit 232.

Referring still to FIG. 11, slave presentation unit 232 is a largeformat printer or plotter that includes a subset of the components or aset of components akin to the components illustrated in FIG. 5. To thisend, unit 232 includes a processor 336, a motor 338, a printer 340 and alarge roll of paper 342 as well as a transceiver 240. In the case ofunit 232, processor 336 is linked to motor 338, transceiver 240 andprinter 340 and, when an image is flipped to unit 232, processor 336controls motor 338 and printer 340 simultaneously to unroll a portion ofthe paper roll while applying ink to a front surface 250 thereof as theunrolled portion of the roll drops downward. In addition to applying theimage to surface 250, printer 340 applies the image identifier number(e.g., “6” in FIG. 11) in the upper left hand corner of the image.

After an image is printed, the portion of the roll that was let out ofunit 232 can be torn off and posted adjacent unit 232 for continuousviewing. To this end, in at least some embodiments, rail 40 may includea corkboard front surface so that tacks can be used to post torn sheetsthere along. In FIG. 11, an exemplary torn sheet 234 having the number“7” as an identifier number is illustrated as being posted to rail 40adjacent unit 232. It is contemplated that perforated lines may beprovided at spaced locations along the length of the paper roll so thatsheets can be torn off in a clean fashion.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 11, in order to re-present one ofthe images printed by slave unit 232 via master unit 28, referring toFIGS. 2 and 11, a system operator uses number pad 67 to select thenumber associated with the image to re-present and then selects retrievekey 62. For instance, to re-present the image on sheet 234 in FIG. 11,the operator selects number “7” and retrieve key 62. After key 62 isselected, referring once again to FIG. 3, master unit processor 80accesses the image stored in memory 88 corresponding to image identifiernumber “7” and re-presents that image via display 48. Once the image isre-presented, the image may be modified and then re-flipped to slaveunit 232 for printing and posting.

Referring now to FIG. 12, yet one additional system 251 according to thepresent invention as illustrated. Here, the system 251 includes a masterpresentation unit 48 and first and second slave units 252 a and 252 b,respectively. In the illustrated embodiment, master unit 48 is mountedto a rail 40 between slave units 252 a and 252 b so that, when viewedfrom an audience's perspective, unit 252 a is to the left of master unit48 and unit 252 b is to the right of master unit 48.

Master unit 48 is similar to the master units described above andtherefore will not be described here in detail. Each of slave units 252a and 252 b is similarly constructed and operates in a similar fashionand therefore, in the interest of simplifying this explanation, onlyunit 252 a will be described in any detail. Unit 252 a includes ahardened, generally rectilinear, plastic or metallic housing 258 a, atransceiver 254 a and a large format thin profile plasma, LCD or otherthin profile display screen 256 a. In addition, unit 252 a also includesa processor and a memory linked thereto, neither of the processor normemory illustrated. The slave processor is linked to display 256 a andto slave transceiver 254 a as well as to the slave memory.

Referring still to FIG. 12, when an image is flipped from unit 48 toslave unit 252 a, the image is transmitted wirelessly to unit 252 a andis immediately presented via display 256 a. As in the above examples,when an image is flipped from unit 28, unit 28 is immediately blanked soas to mimic the flipping of a sheet on a conventional paper pad typeflipchart. Here, when an image is flipped from master unit 28, the imageand the slave unit to which the image has been flipped may be correlatedand stored in either the master unit memory 88 or in the slave unitmemory.

Where an image displayed via one of the slave units is to be retrievedand again displayed via master unit 28, the keyboard on unit 28 may beused to identify the slave unit from which the image is to be retrievedand then to perform the retrieval process. Once again, the retrievalprocess may be completely internal to unit 28 where the image presentedby the slave unit is stored in master unit memory 88. In thealternative, where the slave image is stored in the slave unit memory,the retrieval process may require a retrieval request packet from masterunit 28 to the slave unit (e.g., 252 a in FIG. 12) to retrieve the imageand then a second packet transmission from the slave unit back to masterunit 28.

Referring now to FIG. 18, one additional system 470 consistent with atleast some aspects of the present invention is illustrated. System 470includes a single presentation unit (also referred to by numeral 470)that includes a display 474 mounted within a rigid housing assembly 472so that a display surface 475 is observable to the audience. Here,surface 475 is generally divided into a plurality of sub-spaces forpresentation purposes including adjacent spaces 476, 478 and 480. In atleast some embodiments it is contemplated that there will be nomechanical delineators between presentation spaces 476, 478 and 480 andthat, instead, those separate spaces will be recognizable as such onlywhen information is presented on surface 475. Thus, for instance,referring also to FIG. 23, system 470 may include a front projector unit471 that projects images into each of presentation surface spaces 476,478 and 480 and a sensor assembly 473 that senses activity on displaysurface 475. In the alternative, unit 470 may be a flat panel plasma,LCD type display or other thin type display where separate images arepresented via each of spaces 476, 478 and 480.

Referring still to FIG. 18, four touch sensitive directed arrow icons482, 484, 486 and 488 are provided below presentation surface 478. Flipicon 484 is selectable to indicate that an image presented via surface478 should be flipped left to surface 476 as indicated by arrow 490.Flip icon 486 is selectable to indicate that an image presented viasurface 478 should be flipped right to surface 480 as indicated by arrow492. Similarly, arrow icon 482 is selectable to indicate that the imageon left surface 476 should be retrieved and presented on surface 478 asindicated by arrow 494 and arrow icon 488 is selectable to indicate thatan image on right surface 480 should be retrieved and presented oncentral surface 478 as indicated via arrow 496. In this case, it iscontemplated that the central presentation surface 478 may be useable inthe same way that the master units described above are useable to editimages and to flip the images to slave units and retrieve the imagesfrom slave units.

Referring to FIG. 19, a system 520 similar to the system of FIG. 18 isillustrated that includes a single presentation unit 522 that is anelectronic, flat panel unit having a presentation screen 524 that formsa viewing surface 526. As in the case of the embodiment of FIG. 18, inFIG. 19 it is assumed that some type of sensor components (notillustrated) are provided to identify locations on surface 526 that areselected or indicated via a system operator (e.g., via a stylus, theusers finger, etc.). In the case of system 520, it is contemplated thata master presentation space 530 may be represented on surface 526 in avisually distinct manner such as by placing a border or outline linetherearound. In FIG. 19 master space 530 is illustrated as being locatedgenerally on the central part of surface 526. In some cases moreelaborate visual graphics may be provided to distinguish master space530. For instance, consistent with the desire to mimic a flip chart,space 530 may be distinguished via graphics that resemble a flip chart.

Referring still to FIG. 19, in some cases a control icon 536 is providedwithin master space 530 that can be used to flip images from masterspace 530 to other spaces on surface 526.

In the illustrated embodiment after an image has been formed in masterspace 530, a system operator can place the tip of a stylus in icon 536to drag the image to another location on surface 526. Here, it iscontemplated that when the image is dragged from master space 530, themaster space and its visually distinguishing features will remain intheir original positions on surface 526. In FIG. 19, one imagepreviously flipped or dragged from master space 530 is labeled 528 and asecond image being flipped from space 530 as indicated via arrow 540 islabeled 532. An arrow 542 represents the tip of a stylus used by theoperator to perform the dragging process.

In at least some cases when images are dragged from space 530, controlicons will move therewith so that the flipped images can be moved aboutsurface 526 after flipping. In addition, in at least some embodiments,images previously flipped may be retrieved to master space 530 byselecting the control icon on the flipped image and dragging theselected icon back into master space 530. Here as in the previouslydescribed embodiments, software for master space editing and display ofsoftware screen shots are contemplated.

Referring now to FIG. 20, another inventive embodiment 550 isillustrated that includes a master unit and two slave units. The masterunit includes a master display screen or assembly 554 and a master frontprojector unit 560 while the first and second slave units include slavescreen 552 and first slave projector unit 558 and second slave screen556 and second slave projector unit 562, respectively. Screens 552, 554and 556 include display projection surfaces 564, 566 and 568,respectively, that are all of similar dimensions and which would each bejuxtaposed for simultaneous viewing by an audience or groupparticipating in collaborative activities. In addition, master assembly554 includes a laser sensor unit 570 mounted along a top edge of screen554 for sensing positions of styluses, pens, erasers, etc., on orproximate surface 566.

In FIG. 20, projector units 558, 560 and 562 are positioned to projectseparate images on each of surfaces 564, 566 and 568. Master assembly554 is linked to (not illustrated) or includes a processor akin to theprocessors described above for controlling images and system softwaregenerally and, more specifically, for controlling image flippingactivity as well as retrieval of images back to master surface 566 forviewing and editing.

Referring to FIG. 21, another system 600 consistent with certaininventive aspects is illustrated. System 600 includes a masterpresentation unit 610 and three slave units 604, 606 and 608. Each ofthe slave units 604, 606 and 608 is similar to the slave units describedabove with respect to FIGS. 1, 4 and 5 and therefore are not describedagain here in detail. Here it should suffice to say that each slave unit604, 606 and 608 is mounted to a wall 601 and more specifically via awall mounted rail 602 and is capable of receiving images flipped theretofrom master unit 610 and presenting received images via a slavepresentation surface (i.e., surfaces 622, 624 and 626).

While each of units 604, 606 and 608 is wall mounted, master unit 610 isa portable floor supported easel type assembly including an easelstructure (also identified via numeral 610) having an interior space 614and one or more shelf members 616. In the illustrated embodiment casters618 (only two labeled) are mounted at the bottom end of easel structure610 to facilitate movement within a facility. A computer projector andother system components may be located on shelves 616 within space 614.Unit 610 includes a master presentation surface 612 for presentingmaster images, modifying the images and generally facilitatingcollaborative activity. As in the embodiments above, on-screenselectable icons may be provided via surface 612 for flipping masterimages to the slave units, to retrieve images and to perform other imagemanagement functions. Here, screen 612 may take any of several formsincluding a plasma screen, a rear projection screen where a rearprojector is located within space 614, a front projection screen, etc.

Referring now to FIG. 24, one additional system 700 is illustrated thatis consistent with other aspects of the present invention. System 700includes a plurality of portable presentation units 702, 704, 706, 708,710 and 712. Each of units 702, 704, 706, 708, 710 and 712 is similarlyconstructed and operates in a similar fashion and therefore, in theinterest of simplifying this explanation, only unit 702 will bedescribed in any detail. Unit 702 includes a flat panel electronicdisplay screen 714 that is mounted on top of a portable display stand716. Casters 718 are provided underneath stand 716 to facilitatemovement of unit 702. For example, unit 702 may be used in any ofseveral different conference rooms, may be used within a private officeat times and at other times within a conference space, etc. Although notillustrated, here, it is contemplated that electronic display 714 wouldinclude a tracking system for tracking activity that occurs on oradjacent the front surface of the display 714. Thus, for example, asdescribed above, when a pen, eraser or other electronic type device isused to modify or select information presented via display 714, the penor eraser activity would be sensed and cause modification to orselection of information presented via display 714. In addition, it iscontemplated that unit 702 includes a wireless transceiver (notillustrated) akin to the transceivers described above with respect toother embodiments such that unit 702 can transmit information to otherunits 704, 706, 708, 710 and 712 and can receive information from thoseother units. In this embodiment, any of units 702, 704, 706, 708, 710 or712 may be used as a master unit and any of the other units or a sub-setthereof may be used as slave units.

Referring now to FIG. 28, one additional system 800 is illustrated asconsistent with at least some aspects of the present invention. System800 includes a relatively wide display screen or surface 802, two videotype projectors 804 and 806, one portable flat panel displaypresentation unit 808, a rack mounted processor 810, a local areanetwork (LAN) 812, a wireless access point 814, a DVD/VCR 818, and ascanner/printer 816. Portable presentation unit 808 is similar to thepresentation units described above with respect to FIG. 24 and thereforewill not be described here again in detail. Here, it should suffice tosay that unit 808 includes a flat panel display screen 838 that ismounted on top of a portable cart type arrangement (not labeled) andincludes a wireless transceiver 836 for transmitting information toaccess point 814 and receiving information therefrom.

Rack mounted processor 810 is linked via LAN 812 to access point 814 toreceive information therefrom and provide information thereto fortransmission to unit 808. In addition, processor 810 is hardwired toDVD/VCR 818 and scanner/printer 816 as well as to each of projectorunits 804 and 806. Projector unit 804 is configured to projectinformation generally on the left half of surface 802 while unit 806 isarranged and configured to generally project information on the righthalf of surface 802. More specifically, unit 804 is configured toproject two images in a side-by-side fashion in adjacent spaces 820 and822 on the left half of surface 802 while unit 806 is configured toproject images into third and fourth spaces 824 and 826 that areadjacent and are generally on the right half of surface 802. Whenprojecting either an image including information or a blank image intospaces 820 and 822, unit 804 also projects an image identifier into thespace, the image identifiers in FIG. 28 including identifiers 1 and 2that are labeled 828 and 830, respectively. Similarly, unit 806 projectsidentifiers 3 and 4 that are labeled 832 and 834 into spaces 824 and826. The numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4 are used to distinguish spaces 820, 822,824 and 826 from each other during system operation. In at least someconfigurations processor 810 drives each of unit 808 and projectors 804and 806 and thus controls all displayed/presented images. In theseconfigurations unit 808 is simply an interface and theflipping/retrieving processes are performed by processor 810. Forinstance, when an image is flipped from unit 808 to space 822, unit 808transmits a “flip” command to processor 810 which in turn causesprojector 804 to display the image from screen 838 in space 822. Whenthe image from space 822 is retrieved, a retrieve command is transmittedto processor 810 which in turn transmits the image being retrieved backto unit 808 to be displayed.

Referring still to FIG. 28, control icons are provided near the lowersection of portable unit display screen 838. Control icon includes spaceselection icons 842, 844, 846 and 848, a retrieve icon 840 and send orflip icon 850. Each of the space selection icons 842, 844, 846 and 848includes a space label 1, 2, 3 and 4 that matches one of the labelsidentified by 828, 830, 8,32 and 834 associated with spaces 820, 822,284 and 826, respectively. In operation, to flip an image from screen838 to one of spaces 820, 822, 824 and 826, a user simply selects one ofthe space selecting icons 842, 844, 846 and 848 and then selects flipicon 850. For example, to flip an image from screen 838 to space 822 onsurface 802, a user simply selects space selection icon 844 followed byflip icon 850. Similarly, to retrieve an image from one of spaces 820,822, 824 and 826, the user simply selects a corresponding spaceselection icon 842, 844, 846 and 848 followed by retrieve icon 840.

Referring still to FIG. 28, when an image is flipped from screen 838,information is transmitted from portable unit 808 via transceiver 836 toaccess point 814 and through LAN 812 to processor 810. Thereafter,processor 810 controls an associated one of projection units 804 and 806to update the image projected into a corresponding one of spaces 820,822, 824 and 826. When retrieve icon 840 is selected via screen 838,information is transmitted to process 810 via access point 814 and LAN812 requesting that an associated one of the images displayed by one ofunits 804 and 806 be retrieved and presented via screen 838. In thisembodiment, images previously displayed during a session are stored byprocessor 810 in an associated memory and, in at least some embodiments,only the image currently being displayed by portable unit 808 is storedin a memory of unit 808.

Referring once again to FIG. 28, in addition to displaying images viaunit 808 and in spaces 820, 822, 824 and 826, in at least someembodiments DVD's and VCR's played via unit 818 may be presented onscreen 838 or one of the projected spaces. In addition, while an imageis displayed via screen 838, a print icon 870 provided just above thespace control icons on screen 838 may be selected thereby causingprocessor 810 to print the image currently via screen 838 viascanner/printer 816. Here, information can be scanned in via scanner 816for display or information modification via screen 838. When an image isscanned in, process 810 transmits the image via LAN 812 and access point814 to unit 808 for display.

Referring now to FIGS. 13 through 16, various methods and sub-methodsconsist of with certain aspects of the present invention are described.Each of the methods described herein may be used with at least one andin some cases more than one or even all of the systems described aboveor variations thereof.

Referring specifically to FIG. 13, a method 270 for flipping images froma master unit 28 to a slave unit is illustrated. Referring also to FIGS.1-5, method 270 will be described in the context of system 10. Beginningat block 272, a system operator arranges the master unit and the slavepresentation units or devices for viewing by an audience within room 11.At block 274, information is presented via master display 48. At block276, processor 80 monitors input devices such as keyboard 30, wirelesscontrol signals generated via HHD 200, etc., for a command to flip animage currently presented via unit 28 to one of the slave presentationunits 22 a and 22 b. At decision block 278, where no flip command isreceived, control loops back up the block 274 where the method describedabove is repeated. At block 278, after a flip command is received,control passes to block 280 where master unit 48 transmits the masterimage as part of an image data packet to the selected slave unit. Atblock 282, the selected slave unit presents the received image in any ofthe manners described above.

Referring now to FIG. 14, a sub-method 284 which may be used to replaceblocks 280 and 282 in FIG. 13 is illustrated which correlates flippedimages with image identifiers so that images can be subsequentlyre-accessed, re-presented and edited via master unit 28. To this end,sub-process 284 is to be used with systems that assign unique imageidentifiers to images generated by the slave units where the slave unitsthen include (e.g., print) the image identifiers with the images whenimages are generated. Thus, sub-method 284 will described in the contextof system 230 of FIG. 11.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, 11, 13 and 14, after a flip from master unit 28to slave unit 232 has been commanded at block 278, control passes toblock 286 in FIG. 14. At block 286, the master image is correlated witha unique image identifier number (e.g., “6” or “7” as illustrated inFIG. 11). At block 288, master processor 80 stores the correlated imageand image identifier number in master memory 88. At block 290, masterunit 28 transmits the master image to the selected slave unit. At block292, the selected slave unit presents the transmitted image along withthe image identifier number. Thus, for instance, in FIG. 11, slave unit232 generates the image on surface 250 and adds the image identifiernumber “6” in the upper left hand corner. At this point the image fliphas been completed.

Continuing, at block 294, after an image flip has been completed, masterprocessor 80 monitors for a retrieval request for an image associatedwith a specific identifier number. For example, where identifier number“7” has been appended to an image on sheet 234 as indicated in FIG. 11,the system operator may request retrieval of the image on sheet 234 viaentry of number “7” and selection of the retrieve key 62 (see again FIG.2). At block 296, where no retrieval is requested, control loops back upthrough blocks 292 and 294. After a retrieve command is received atblock 296, control passes to block 298 where master processor 80accesses the image correlated with the identifier number entered by theoperator and at block 300, master unit 28 re-presents the correlatedimage via master display 48.

Referring now to FIG. 15, a method 330 for managing flipchart imageswhere each of the slave units is identifiable by a unique slave unitidentifier as is the case in the embodiment of FIG. 1 is illustrated. Tothis end, in FIG. 1, slave unit 22 a can be uniquely identified bynumber “1” while unit 22 b can be identified by number “2”. Referring toFIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 15, at block 334, a slave identifier (e.g., 24 a, 24b, etc.) is provided on each slave display device and the slaveidentifier is associated in some fashion with the wireless networkaddress corresponding to the identifier on the slave device. Theassociated slave identifiers and network addresses are stored in masterunit memory 88. At block 332, the master unit 28 and the slavepresentation units 22 a and 22 b are arranged within room 11 for viewingby an audience.

At block 336, an image is presented and/or manipulated via masterdisplay 48. At block 338, master unit processor 80 monitors for a flipcommand indicating that the currently displayed image should be flippedto one of the slave presentation units. At block 340, where no flip isindicated, control passes back up and through blocks 336 and 338. Once aflip is indicated at block 340, control passes to block 342 where themaster image is correlated with the slave identifier specified by theoperator (i.e., the identity of the slave unit to which the image is tobe flipped).

At block 344, master processor 80 stores the correlated image and slaveidentifier number in memory 88 and at block 346 master processor 80transmits the master image to the slave unit. At block 348, the slaveunit presents the received image.

At block 350, master processor 80 monitors for a retrieve requestindicating a specific slave identifier associated with a slave unit fromwhich an image should be retrieved. At block 352, if a retrieval commandis not received, control passes back up to block 348 and the loopdescribed above is repeated. At block 352, after a retrieval command isreceived, control passes to block 354 where processor 80 accesses theimage correlated with the slave identifier in master memory 88. At block356, processor 80 re-presents the correlated image via master display48.

Referring now to FIG. 16, a method 360 that may be run by master unitprocessor 80 in parallel with any of the methods described above withrespect to FIGS. 13 through 15 is illustrated. Method 360 is a methodfor correlating currently presented images with specific presentationunits when a session store command is received, storing the correlatedimages and unit identifiers for subsequent access and then, when aresume command is received, for re-presenting the images via thepresentation units associated therewith when the session store commandwas received. Thus, for instance, referring to FIG. 1, assume thatduring a collaborative session first, second and third images arepresented via units 22 a, 22 b and master unit 28 when the store key 60is selected, respectively. Here, upon selection of key 60, the first,second and third images are correlated with unit identifiers associatedwith units 22 a, 22 b and 28, respectively, the correlated data isstored in master memory 88 as an image set and then the presentationsurfaces of units 22 a, 22 b and 28 are cleared. Subsequently, when anoperator resumes the session corresponding to the stored image set,processor 28 flips the first and second images to slave units 22 a and22 b, respectively, for presentation and presents the third image viadisplay 48 so that the session can continue where the session left off.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 16, at block 362, images are presentedvia master display 48 and each of slave units 22 a and 22 b. At block364, processor 80 monitors for selection of store key 60. At block 366,where store key 60 has not been selected, control passes back up toblock 362. Once store key 60 is selected at block 366, control passes toblock 368 where processor 28 blanks master display 48 and transmitssignals to each slave unit (e.g., 22 a, 22 b, etc.) causing each of theslave units to blank their respective presentation surfaces. Here, whilethe presentation surfaces are blanked, data corresponding to the imagesfrom the presentation surfaces is maintained in master memory 88 or acombination of master memory 88 and the slave memories (e.g., 119 inFIG. 5).

Continuing, at block 171 processor 80 requests a session identifier fromthe operator that can be subsequently used to access the session images.For instance, processor 80 may provide a session identifier field and aquery prompting the operator to name the session image set via masterdisplay 48. Where a text session identifier is preferred, processor 80may also provide touch selectable icons comprising a full alphabeticalkeyboard via display 48 or, in the alternative, may be capable ofrecognizing hand writing within the session identifier field. Instead ofrequesting a session identifier at block 171, processor 80 may simplyassign a random access code to the session image set and temporarilyprovide the code to the operator via display 48.

At block 369, processor 80 correlates each image in the image set with aunique presentation unit identifier (i.e., an identifier that is uniqueto one of master unit 28 or one of the slave units (e.g., 22 a, 22 b,etc.). At block 370, master processor 80 stores the session image setwith the session identifier where each of the images is associated witha specific one of the master unit and the slave unit identifiers inmaster memory 88. After block 370 all of the session images have beenstored in an accessible format for future reference.

Next, at block 374, master processor 80 monitors for selection of resumeicon 56 indicating that a previous collaborative session is to beresumed and therefore that a stored image set should be reaccessed andpresented. At block 376, where no resume command is received, controlpasses back up to block 374. Once a resume command is received at block376, control passes to block 377.

At block 377, master processor 80 provides a request prompting a systemoperator to provide a session identifier corresponding to a previouslystored image set. Here, the prompt may include a text query and asession identifier field along with a suitable set of touch sensitiveicons (e.g., numbers, alphanumeric, etc.) for specifying an identifier.

At block 378, the image set associated with an entered sessionidentifier is retrieved from memory 88 and at block 380 the images inthe set are displayed via the master display and the slave units so thatthe previous session can continue where it left off. After block 380,control passes back up to block 362 where the process described abovecontinues.

In addition to being able to store sets of images that aresimultaneously presented via the system presentation units forsubsequent access, it is also contemplated that, in at least someembodiments of the present invention, separate images may be selectablefor storage and subsequent access independent of whether or not theimages are flipped to slave units. For example, referring once again toFIGS. 2 and 3, it at least some cases, master processor 80 may beprogrammed such that, when store key 60 is selected once, the imagecurrently presented via display 48 is stored and, when key 60 isselected twice in rapid succession (e.g., an action akin to adouble-click of a mouse), processor 80 is programmed to store an entirecompliment of session images as an image set. Where single images arestored for subsequent access, in some cases those images may be added toa session set associated with the collaborative session occurring whenthe image is stored. In the alternative, in some cases, when a singleimage is stored, processor 80 may perform a process similar to the onedescribed above with respect to storage of session image sets, requiringa specific text or numeric image identifier from the system operatorthat can be used to subsequently reaccess the image.

Where images are separately stored, referring still to FIGS. 2 and 3,when retrieve key 62 is selected, because images can be retrieved fromeither the master memory or from one of the slave presentation devices,processor 80 may provide a menu of options indicating the possiblesources from which an image can be retrieved and suitable tools foraccessing those images.

Referring to FIG. 17, a master presentation unit 528 similar to themaster unit 28 of FIG. 2 is illustrated where the master unit 528provides a set of touch sensitive icons in a lower margin area 530.Here, the resume icon 56, send icon 58, store icon 60 and retrieve icon62 as well as the left and right flip icons 68 and 70, respectively,have functions that mirror the functions described above with respect tothe similarly numbered keys in FIG. 2 and therefore, in the interest ofsimplifying this explanation, will not be described again here indetail. The main difference between the icon set provided via unit 528and the key set provided via unit 28 is that the number pad 67 in FIG. 2has been replaced by a thumb nail sketch bar 450 in FIG. 17. Here, it iscontemplated that, whenever an image is flipped from master unit 528 toone of the slave units, a thumb nail of the flipped image will bepresented via bar 450. In FIG. 17, two exemplary thumb nail sketches areidentified by numerals 452 and 454. Here, to re-present an image viamaster display 48 that is being presented by one of the slave units,instead of identifying the specific slave unit or an image identifierthat has been applied to an image to access the image, the systemoperator can simply select one of the thumb nail sketches (e.g., 452,454, etc.) and retrieve icons 62 to re-present the image via display 48.

In at least some cases, it is contemplated that all images flipped frommaster unit 528 to any of the slave units are stored and maintainedwithin the master memory 88 until a system operator terminates acollaborative session and corresponding thumb nail sketches (e.g., 452,454, etc.) are added to bar 450. Here, where the number of flippedimages exceeds the number of slave presentation units which is often thecase during prolonged collaborative sessions, the system operator willstill be able to quickly and easily access all flipped imagesindependent of whether or not the images are currently presented viaslave units or are simply stored in the master memory. Icons 64 and 66are left and right scrolling icons that enable the operator tographically search a large number of thumbnail sketches for specificimages to re-present. In some cases it is contemplated that all flippedimages and all stored images that are not flipped will be stored inmaster memory 88 and represented as selectable thumbnail sketches in bar450.

Referring once again to FIG. 24, in at least some inventive embodimentsit is contemplated that where multiple presentation units are availableand where any of the presentation units may serve as either a master orslave unit, a method may be implemented in software to quickly help asystem user identify one of the units as a master unit, select a sub-setof units to operate as slave units from a larger set of units, toassociate the master and selected slave units and provide tools forflipping images among the master and slave units. To this end, referringonce again to FIG. 24, in this example it will be assumed thatpresentation units 702, 704, 706, 708, 710 and 712 can be used forvarious purposes such as, for example, in private offices, in conferencerooms, in public spaces such as a hallway or the entry to a cafeteria,etc. To this end, each of the units includes a flat panel display 714mounted on top of a castered stand 716 so that the units can easily betransported from one location to another. When two or more of the unitsare to be used together to facilitate a conferencing process where oneof the units will be used as a master unit and the other unit or unitswill be used as slave units, it is contemplated that several units arebrought to a conference space, associated with each other and can thenrun applications to facilitate the conferencing process.

Referring now to FIG. 25, a method 730 consistent with the processdescribed above is illustrated. Referring also to FIG. 24, at block 732,several display units (e.g., 702, 704, 706, 708, 710 and 712) areprovided where each of the display units has a unique wireless address.For example, display unit 702 may have a wireless address 00425A1, unit704 may have a wireless address 54478B1, unit 706 may have a wirelessaddress 89908B1, etc. At process block 734, several of the display unitsare brought into a conferencing space (see FIG. 24).

At process block 736, with each of the units in the conferencing spaceturned on, a system operator indicates that one of the units is to beemployed as a master unit. To this end, as illustrated in FIG. 24, in atleast some embodiments whenever one of the units (e.g., 702) is turnedon, information (i.e., an initial interface) is presented via the unit'sdisplay (e.g., 714) that instructs the system operator on how to selectthe unit as a master unit. In this regard, instructions 720 may beprovided via display 714 along with a selectable MASTER icon 722 foridentifying unit 702 as the master unit. Similar instructions and mastericon (e.g., see 724) are provided via each of units 704, 706, 708, 710and 712. When an operator indicates that one of the units is to be amaster unit, by default, the other units in the conference space areidentified as possible slave units. In the present example it will beassumed that an operator selects MASTER icon 722 via display 714 therebyindicating that unit 702 is to be the master unit.

Continuing, at block 736, after an operator selects unit 702 as themaster unit, unit 702 wirelessly polls the conference space to identifyother presentation units 704, 706, 708, 710 and 712 within the space.When each of units 704, 706, 708, 710 and 712 receives the pollingsignals requesting that the units identify themselves as possible slaveunits, each unit 704, 706, 708, 710 and 712 transmits an informationpacket back to master unit 702 identifying the slave unit by its uniquewireless network address. For example, consistent with the exemplaryaddresses above, unit 704 transmits an information packet includingunique address 54478B1, unit 706 transmits an information packetincluding unique address 89908B1, etc. When unit 702 receives the returninformation packets from the possible slave units, unit 702 identifieseach of the possible slave units, associates a unique simple identifierwith each of the slave units and then further facilitates theconfiguration process. To this end, in the present example, master unit702 identifies five separate slave units 704, 706, 708, 710 and 712 andassociates simple identifiers 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 therewith, respectively.

Referring still to FIG. 25 and also to FIG. 26 at block 738, afteridentifying the five slave units, master unit 702 transmits informationpackets back to each of the five slave units 704, 706, 708, 710 and 712assigning the simple identifier labels to each. In the present example,the identifier labels include numbers 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 which aretransmitted to units 704, 706, 708, 710 and 712, respectively. When aslave unit receives a simple identifier label, the unit displays thelabel via its display screen. In FIG. 26, the displayed simple labelsare shown at 752, 754, 756, 758 and 760.

In addition, referring still to FIGS. 25 and 26, at block 738 masterunit 702 provides a configuration interface including a master label 750designation near the top thereof, instructions 780 for selecting asub-set of the slave units within the conference space to be used inconjunction with master unit 702 to facilitate the conferencing processand icons corresponding to the simple labels (e.g., 752, 754, etc.)associated with each of the slave units 704, 706, 708, etc. For example,icon 762 is associated with label 752 and hence with slave unit 704.Similarly, icons 766, 768, 770 and 772 are associated with labels 754,756, 758 and 760 and hence with slave units 706, 708, 710 and 712,respectively. An enter icon 774 is also provided near the bottom of themaster unit display. Here, consistent with instructions 780, a sub-setof the slave units 704-712 can be selected by selecting a sub-set of theicons 762, 766, 768, 770 and 772 and then selecting ENTER icon 774. Forexample, to select slave units 706, 708 and 710 as units to be used inconjunction with master unit 702 during the conferencing session, anoperator select icons 766, 768 and 770 and then selects ENTER icon 774.This process of monitoring for slave unit sub-set specifying activity isrepresented by blocks 740 and 742 in FIG. 25.

Once ENTER icon 774 is selected, at process block 744, master unit 702provides a control interface including the master label 750 designationand provides icons suitable for flipping master images to the sub-set ofselected slave units and for retrieving images from the selected sub-setof slave units. To this end, referring to FIG. 27, master unit 702provides a separate flipping/retrieving icon 782, 784 and 786 for eachof the selected sub-set of slave units 706, 708 and 710, respectively.The flipping/retrieving icons 782, 784 and 786 are similar and operatein a similar fashion and therefore, of interest of simplifying thisexplanation, only icon 784 will be described here in any detail. Icon784 includes a flip arrow icon 769 and a retrieve arrow icon 771. Whenflip icon 769 is selected, an image currently displayed via the masterdisplay is flipped or transmitted to the slave unit 708 associated withicon 784 (i.e., unit 708 that is associated with simple label 754).Similarly, when retrieve arrow icon 771 is selected, the image currentlydisplayed via slave unit 708 is retrieved and displayed via the masterdisplay unit 702. An END icon 788 is provided for ending the currentconferencing process.

Thus, it should be appreciated that multiple use electronic displays canbe configured in many different ways for separate and combined uses. Itshould also be appreciated that where displays are equipped for wirelesscommunication, software can be provided that allows the displays tostreamline a configuring process.

Referring now to FIG. 29, yet one more system 890 that is consistentwith at least some aspects of certain embodiments of the presentinvention is illustrated. Referring also to FIG. 28, the system 890includes first and second sub systems 900 and 901 that are each akin tosystem 800 described above with respect to FIG. 28. Thus, each ofsystems 900 and 901 includes a portable master presentation unit, firstand second projector units, a display screen, a rack mounted processor,a local area network and a wireless access point, none of which areseparately labeled in FIG. 29. As in the embodiment illustrated in FIG.28, each of the projectors is configured to project two separate imagesonto the display screen. For example, in FIG. 29, one of the projectorsin subsystem 900 projects first and second separate images into firstand second separate spaces 904 and 906 while one of the projectors insubsystem 901 projects first and second images into first and secondspaces 903 and 905, respectively. In FIG. 29, in addition to thecomponents described above, the local area networks are linked via awide-area network (WAN) 920.

Referring still to FIG. 29, in at least some configurations, it iscontemplated that system 901 would be remotely located from system 900and that either of the portable presentation units could be used as amaster presentation unit. It is also contemplated that, in at least someapplications, when a system user uses one of the master presentationunits to perform a presentation, all activity that occurs in thecorresponding subsystem would be replicated in the other subsystem. Forexample, when a system user makes changes to information on masterdisplay screen 902, those changes would be, essentially in real time,replicated on remote master presentation screen 907. In addition, when asystem user flips an image from master presentation space 902 to one ofthe slave presentation spaces (e.g., 904, 906, etc.), the flippingactivity would also be replicated within system 901. For example, if asystem user flips an image from space 902 to space 904 in system 900,the same image would be flipped from space 907 to space 903 in subsystem901. Similarly, if a system user retrieves an image from space 906 backto master presentation space 902, the image from space 905 would also beretrieved back to master space 907 in subsystem 901.

In addition, activity that alters an image in master presentation space907, in at least some embodiments, would also automatically andessentially in real time alter a similar image in master presentationspace 902. Similarly, flipping and retrieving of images via space 907,in at least some embodiments, would be reflected by similar activityoccurring in subsystem 900.

Referring now to FIG. 30, another embodiment 950 that is consistent withat least some aspects of some embodiments of the present invention isillustrated. Referring also to FIG. 28, system 950 is similar to system800 in that system 950 includes a portable master presentation unit 951,a display screen 953 and first and second projectors 964 and 966. Othercomponents illustrated in FIG. 28 are not shown in FIG. 30 in theinterest of simplifying this explanation. The primary difference betweenthe system in FIG. 30 and the system illustrated in FIG. 28 is that unit951 includes a flat panel display 955 that can be rotated from theportrait view as illustrated in FIG. 30 to the landscape viewillustrated in FIG. 31 as indicated by arrow 957. Here, it iscontemplated that when display 955 is rotated from the portraitorientation to the landscape orientation, at least two changes may, inat least some embodiments, automatically occur. First, the number ofslave images projected may be dependent upon unit 955 orientation. Tothis end, in at least some embodiments it is contemplated that whendisplay 955 is in the portrait orientation as illustrated in FIG. 30,each projector 964 and 966 may be programmed to project two separateadjacent images. For instance, as illustrated in FIG. 30, projector 964projects first and second images into adjacent spaces 956 and 958 whileprojector 966 projects first and second images into adjacent spaces 960and 962 where each of the projected images has a portrait form.Referring to FIG. 31, when unit 955 is rotated into the landscapeorientation, the processor that drives the projectors is programmed toautomatically reformat so that each of projectors 964 and 966 onlyprojects one landscape image. In FIG. 31, projector 964 projects a firstlandscape image into landscape space 980 while projector 966 projects asecond image into landscape space 982.

Second, when display 955 is rotated from the portrait orientation to thelandscape orientation, the control icons 954 presented via display 955are altered to, first, correspond to the changes made to the slavepresentation spaces and so that the control icons 954 are betteroriented within the viewing portion of display 955. To this end, asillustrated, while four slave space selection icons are illustrated ifFIG. 30, only two slave space selection icons are illustrated in FIG.31, a separate one of the slave space selection icons corresponding toeach one of the slave spaces 980 and 982. From the foregoing, it will beobserved that numerous modifications and variations can be effectedwithout departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concept ofthe present invention. It will be appreciated that the presentdisclosure is intended as an exemplification of the invention, and isnot intended to limit the invention to the specific embodimentillustrated. The disclosure is intended to cover by the appended claimsall such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims. Forexample, master unit 28 may simply be a conventional whiteboard equippedwith a camera wherein, when an image is flipped from the master unit toone of the slave units, the camera takes a picture of the imagepresented via the master unit and transmits that image to a selectedslave unit for presentation.

In addition, while all of the presentation units described hereininclude mounting members that mount the presentation units to a wallmounted rail, it should be appreciated that other types of supportstructures for the presentation units are contemplated. For instance,master unit 28 may be supported by an easel type assembly or may be acart mounted assembly where the cart includes casters to facilitate easymovement of the unit within a facility.

Moreover, while a simple eraser and printer are described above, itshould be appreciated that various types of printers and erasers arecontemplated and may be used with the various embodiments of the presentinvention. For instances, in some cases, slave presentation surfaces maybe provided by rigid whiteboard member and the printers described abovemay be plotters that move along the presentation surface or relativethereto (i.e., the rigid whiteboards may in fact be moved with respectto the plotters) and the eraser may be supported and moved in a similarfashion to provide images on the presentation surface and to eraseimages therefrom.

Furthermore, both the slave and master presentation units may besupported in any fashion including permanent wall mounts, easel typesupport structures (see FIGS. 24, 26 and 27) with or without casters tofacilitate movement, ceiling mounts, structure that secures the units topartition walls, etc.

While systems described herein include only two slave units, it shouldbe appreciated that some systems will include three or more slave units.In addition, some systems may include more than one type of slave unit.For instance, referring again to FIGS. 11 and 12, a printer type slaveunit like unit 232 may be added to the system 251 of FIG. 12 so that thesystem includes the printer 232 as well as flat panel units 252 a and252 b. Other slave unit combinations are contemplated.

In at least some cases all of the system units (e.g., the master andslave units) may have identical constructions and functionality so thatimages can be edited via any of the units and can be flipped from orretrieved to any of the units. Thus, for instance, where three unitslike master unit 28 comprise a system, an operator may move among theunits editing and flipping and retrieving in an enhanced collaborativefashion.

In addition, while one simple rail 40 configuration is described above,the invention contemplates many different types of rail configurationsincluding other hook to hook type rails, rails that may receive wheelsmounted on the master and slave units, rails that are only mountable viathe ends thereof (e.g., the rail may restrict removal of mounted unitsvia upward or forward motion—this is particularly important in caseswhere the units are relatively expensive) and other system where theunits include securing structure to more effectively secure the units tothe rail members 40.

As illustrated in FIG. 28, in addition to the components above, any ofthe inventive systems may also include a standard sized printer/scanner(e.g., 8½″×11″, legal size, etc.) for printing copies of displayedimages for meeting attendants to use during a meeting or to take fromthe meeting or so that documents can be quickly scanned in for viewingand editing via the system.

Moreover, referring to FIGS. 1 and 22, in at least some cases, it iscontemplated that one or all of the master and slave units 28, 221, 22b, may be located remotely 798 from a presenter using a laptop orpersonal computer to control master and slave units and the imagespresented thereon. Here, for instance, if a presenter in Chicago makes amark on a Chicago based unit 800 display, the mark may be immediatelyprovided on a master unit 28 (see again FIG. 1) located in a New Yorkconference room. Here, if the user indicates that the master imageshould be flipped to the first slave unit 22 a, the image in New York isflipped to the first slave unit 22 a in New York. Similarly, images fromthe New York located slave units may be retrieved to the master unit 28for editing via commands entered in Chicago. In the case describedabove, referring to FIG. 22, the remote control unit 200 (see again FIG.10 a) communicates via a network link 810 (e.g., the Internet) with themaster unit 28 to drive the New York based presentation.

In some cases unit 800 may include representations of each of the masterand slave unit images to help the presenter keep track of the remotepresentation. To this end display 812 in FIG. 22 includes a master unitimage box 814 and first and second slave unit image thumbnail sketches816 and 818. In this case flipping and retrieving may be as simple asdragging images from one box or sketch or the other. For instance, toflip to the first slave unit 22 a, a presenter may simply drag themaster image in box 814 to thumbnail 816. Similarly, to retrieve thesecond slave unit image, the user may simply drag the second slave unitthumbnail 818 to the master box 814. This feature may also be used inthe context of a unit 800 to control master and slave images locally(i.e., with unit 800 in the same space as the presentation units).

In some cases the master unit 28 and sub-set of the slave units 22 a, 22b may be located in Chicago while one or more slave units are remotelylocated in New York. Here the presenter could control the flippingprocess to the different slave units in a manner similar to thatdescribed above.

In addition, referring again to FIG. 24, in at least some cases ahandheld interface device 731 may be provided for designating master andslave units. To this end, device 731 may be programmed to wirelesslypoll units 702, 704, 706, 708, 710 and 712 to identify possible masterand slave units and provide selectable icons via a display 733. Here,once a master unit and sub-set of slave units are selected, device 731may transmit the designation information to the corresponding units 702,704, etc., causing appropriate configuration to facilitateflipping/retrieving of images from and to the master unit. Afterconfiguration, control interface tools may be provided via either themaster unit or device 731 or via both.

Moreover, while the system of FIG. 24 is described in the context ofwireless communication, in at least some cases the communication may bevia hardwire hookup.

Furthermore, the configuration aiding process described above withrespect to FIGS. 24-27 could be employed with other types ofpresentation units such as roll down or projection type units, etc., andmay not require all of the steps of FIG. 25. For instance, a master unitmay be predefined or one unit type may always be the master unit whenused with other unit types. For instance, where one unit is anelectronic flat panel touch screen and the other units are roll downtype units, the touch screen unit may always be the master unit and maypoll other units in a conferencing space during commissioning.

Next, an exemplary interface that includes several inventive featureswill be described in the context of the system 890 illustrated in FIG.29 wherein an information presenter uses master unit 902 to presentinformation to conference attendees within a conference room includingthe components which make up subsystem 900 and to another group ofattendees in a remote conference room that includes subsystem 901components. At least some of the conference attendees may have and maybe using personal interface devices including, for instance, laptopcomputers 911, 913, 915, etc., to participate in the conference. In FIG.29, laptops 911 and 913 are linked via a LAN to subsystem 900 whilelaptop 915 is linked to subsystem 900 via WAN 920. In the illustratedembodiment laptops 911 and 913 are used within the conferencing spacethat includes subsystem 900 such that the laptop users can view theirlaptop displays, the image presented via master unit 902 or the slaveimages (e.g., 904, 906, etc.) presented via a slave presentation space969. Similarly, one or more of the laptops may be used within theconference space associated with sub-subsystem 901. In addition, in theillustrated embodiment, laptop 915 is used remotely to patch in andmonitor/participate in conference activities. Hereinafter, unlessindicated otherwise, laptops 911, 913, 915, etc., will be referred to aspersonal interface devices.

Referring still to FIG. 29 and also to FIGS. 32 and 33, in the presentexample it will be assumed that at a certain point during apresentation, master unit 902 provides an interface to the presenterthat has characteristics that are consistent with screen shot 1000 andthat the presenter has caused instances of four images 1022, 1024, 1026and 1028 to be displayed on slave presentation surface 969. Thus,conference attendees within the conference room that includes subsystem900 can observe an image presented via master unit 902 as well as eachof the four images illustrated in FIG. 33.

Referring again to FIGS. 29, 32 and 33, in at least some embodimentswhere two sub-systems 900, 901 that have similar presentationcapabilities are linked, all of the images that are presented via one ofthe sub-systems (e.g., sub-system 900) are repeated or re-presented bythe components of the other subsystem (e.g., subsystem 901). Thus, forinstance, where the images in FIGS. 32 and 33 are presented via masterunit 902 and space 969, five identical images are simultaneouslypresented via unit 907 and slave presentation space 971. Similarly, inat least some embodiments, any activity that is performed by thecomponents of sub-system 900 may be repeated via the components ofsub-system 901 essentially in real time so that attendees in theseparate conference spaces associated with subsystems 900 and 901 cansimultaneously view image activities. Thus, for instance, if the imagedisplayed via the sub-space of space 969 that is labeled “2” is altered,the image displayed via the sub-space of space 971 that is labeled “2”would likewise be altered so that whatever images are presented viasub-system 900 would likewise be presented via sub-system 901. Asanother instance, if an image presented via master unit 902 is altered,the similar image presented via unit 907 is also altered in the samefashion.

Referring still to FIG. 32, interface screen shot 1000 is shown in aformat suitable for display via a 16 by 9 aspect ratio display screenwhere the display screen is in a portrait orientation (i.e., the longdimension 16 is vertical and the short dimension 9 is horizontal). Asillustrated, when a 16 by 9 screen is in the portrait orientation, in atleast some embodiments exemplary screen shot 1000 includes a tool area1002 along a top edge of the screen shot 1000 and a workspace area 1004there below. With respect to the general 16:9 portrait layout shown inFIG. 32, it has been recognized that it is advantageous to provide aworkspace area 1004 that has dimensions that are similar to thedimensions of a typical mechanical flip chart pad or a typical personalcomputer screen in order to maintain a form factor that many conferenceattendees have become accustomed to. A typical flip chart pad has anaspect ratio of approximately two units wide by three units high while apersonal computer display screen typically has an aspect ratio ofapproximately four units wide by three units high. Here, in at leastsome embodiments, when the master unit is in a portrait landscape asillustrated in FIG. 32, area 1004 has a 2:3 aspect ratio (e.g., 2 wideby 3 high) and the remaining space is used to accommodate tool area1004. As described in greater detail below, when the master unit is in alandscape orientation (FIG. 40), a workspace area 1216 has a 4:3 aspectratio (i.e., 4 wide by 3 high) and the remaining space is used toaccommodate tool area 1202.

Referring again to FIG. 32, with a 16:9 aspect ratio screen, byproviding the tool area along a top edge or, in at least someembodiments, along a bottom edge (not illustrated) of the screen, amaximum size 2:3 aspect ratio (i.e., 2 wide by 3 high) can be formatted.Here, to provide a 2:3 format workspace area 1004, an 18:5 format toolarea 1002 can be configured.

The 18:5 tool area format was selected primarily because that ratio isgenerally consistent with the largest 2:3 workspace area 1004 that canbe obtained with a 16:9 display screen. Here, it should be appreciatedthat other screen layouts are contemplated that would be consistent withthe general teaching that the workspace area 1004 should be dimensionedwithin the 2:3 to 3:4 range. To this end, referring to FIG. 32, inanother embodiment, instead of locating tool area 1002 along the topedge of the screen, tool area 1002 could be located along the bottomedge. Similarly, tool area 1002 could be divided into first and secondseparate tool areas located along the top and bottom edges of the screenwhere each of the tool areas has a 36:5 aspect ratio or some otherratios that, when combined, result in an 18:5 ratio. In still otherembodiments the workspace area 1004 may be made smaller than the maximumsize possible for a 16:9 screen but still having the desired 2:3 to 3:4aspect ratio. Other exemplary screen shots corresponding to 4:3 aspectratio display screens in portrait and landscape orientation and to a16:9 aspect ratio display screen in landscape orientation are describedhereafter with reference to FIGS. 40, 42 and 43.

Referring still to FIG. 32, as the label implies, tool area 1002includes a plurality of on-screen icons that are selectable by thepresenter for changing the information displayed via unit 902 and onslave presentation space 969. The on-screen icons may be selectable inany of several different ways such as, for example, via touch, stylus,movement and activation of a mouse controlled pointing icon, a trackball, etc. For the purposes of this explanation it will be assumed thatunit 902 includes sensors for identifying when a location on the displayscreen is touched and the position of the touching activity, unlessindicated otherwise.

Referring now to FIGS. 29 and 34, FIG. 34 illustrates an exemplaryscreen shot 1030 that may be presented to a user of one of the personalinterface devices 911, 913, 915, etc., according to at least someinventive embodiments. Referring also to FIGS. 32 and 33, as illustratedin FIG. 34, the information presented to the remote user includes all ofthe information that is presented to conference attendees within theconference space that includes subsystem 900. Thus, as illustrated inFIG. 34, exemplary screen shot 1030 includes five windows, a separatewindow corresponding to each of the images currently displayed viamaster unit 902 and the slave images 1022, 1024, 1026 and 1028 presentedin space 969. In FIG. 34, window 1032 corresponds to the image displayedvia master unit 902 while windows 1034, 1036, 1038 and 1040 correspondto slave images 1022, 1024, 1026 and 1028, respectively, as illustratedin FIG. 33.

Referring once again to FIGS. 32 and 34 and, more specifically, towindow 1032 in FIG. 34, like screen shot 1000 that includes tool area1002 and workspace area 1004, window 1032 that corresponds to masterunit 902 includes a tool area 1031 as well as a workspace area 1033 thatare arranged in the same fashion as sections 1002 and 1004. Asillustrated, tool area 1031 includes a full complement of screenselectable icons corresponding to the tool icons illustrated in FIG. 32.

In at least some inventive embodiments, in addition to a presenter usingmaster unit 902 being able to modify image information, any conferenceattendee is able to modify image information via workspace section 1033and, when an image is modified via section 1033, the modifications areused, essentially in real time, to modify the image presented via masterunit 902 and hence to modify all images that repeat the master unitimage. Thus, in at least some embodiments, all or at least a sub-set ofattendees are able to perform the same image manipulating functions asthe presenter that uses master unit 902. Similarly, in at least someembodiments, any attendee using a personal interface device 911, 913,915, etc., is able to alter which images are displayed within the onscreen windows 1032, 1034, 1036, 1038 and 1040 using the tools in toolarea 1031 in a fashion similar to that used by a presenter using masterunit 902. Thus, for instance, an attendee using personal interfacedevice 911 can, in the present example, move a new image into window1036 using a tool from area 1031 which in turn causes the same new imageto be displayed as one of the slave images on presentation space 969(see again FIG. 29).

Referring now to FIG. 35, exemplary tool area 1002 is illustrated andincludes a first tool section 1052, a target section 1054, a panelsection 1056, a source section 1058 and a second tool section 1060. Asthe labels imply, tool sections 1052 and 1060 include on screenselectable icons that correspond to different types of tools that can beused to modify images that are displayed within a correspondingworkspace section (see again 1004 in FIG. 32) as well as other types oficons to be described hereinafter. First tool section 1052 includes aneraser icon 1062, a pointer icon 1064, a pen icon 1070, a drop downarrow icon 1068 and a “current settings” indicator 1066. Pen icon 1070is selectable to indicate to master unit 902 that a mechanical orelectronic stylus device to be used with unit 902 is to be used as a pento add information to a displayed image. Once pen icon 1070 has beenselected, the mechanical or electronic stylus is useable to applymarkings to the image in workspace area 1004.

Eraser icon 1062 is selectable to indicate to master unit 902 that themechanical stylus is to be treated as an eraser for removing or erasinginformation from the master unit display screen. Once icon 1062 isselected, the mechanical stylus tip can be moved about the screensurface within area 1004 to remove information previously applied viathe pen tool. In at lease some embodiments a button (not illustrated) onthe stylus may be selected to indicate a desire to use the stylus as aneraser. When the stylus eraser button is selected and the master unitsensors sense stylus activity, the activity is assumed to be erasingactivity.

Pointer icon 1064 is selectable to indicate to master unit 902 that thestylus should be used as a pointing device instead of as an eraser or asa pen for, for example, selecting information within workspace area1004, selecting on screen icons within workspace area 1004 when softwareapplications that use on screen icons as input are running, movingselected and/or non-selected information on the display screen, rotatingscreen information, re-sizing screen information, etc.

When one of the icons 1062, 1064 or 1070 is selected, the selected iconis, in at least some embodiments, highlighted in some fashion toindicate selection. For instance, when pen icon 1070 is not selected, apen cap is presented as covering the pen tip as illustrated in FIG. 32.When pen icon 1070 is selected, the cap is eliminated to expose the tipas illustrated in FIG. 35. Similarly, eraser icon 1062 and pointer icon1064 will be visually distinguished in some fashion when selected.

Icon 1068 is selectable to open one or more drop down menus associatedwith a currently selected one of icons 1062, 1064 or 1070. Thus, forexample, when pen icon 1070 is selected and then icon 1068 is selected,a drop down menu opens up enabling a presenter to select pen type,thickness, line effect (e.g., dashed, full, etc.). An another example,when eraser icon 1062 is selected and then icon 1068 is selected, a dropdown menu opens up enabling a presenter to select eraser characteristicssuch as eraser swath width, what information an eraser will erase (e.g.,erasing may be limited to a specific color marking), etc.

Current settings icon 1066 is an on-screen indicator that, as the labelimplies, indicates current characteristics associated with a currentlyselected tool such as pen color, line thickness, line effect, etc., oreraser swath width, etc.

Referring still to FIG. 35, source section 1058 includes a plurality oficons, each of which corresponds to a different source for informationthat can be presented via master unit workspace area 1004. In FIG. 35,the source icons include twelve separate icons arranged in three rows offour icons each. The illustrated icons include three different typesincluding computer icons (e.g., 1102), 1103, etc., video icons, one ofwhich is labeled 1100 in FIG. 35, and an easel icon 1098 correspondingto another apparatus akin to master unit 902. A separate computer iconlike icon 1102 is provided that corresponds to each of the personalinterface devices 911, 913, 915, etc. that is used to patch into theconference. Thus, for example, consistent with FIG. 29, a separatecomputer source icon 1102 is provided for each of devices 911, 913, 915,etc. Here, it is assumed that when a person patches into a conferenceand becomes an attendee, identifying information will be obtained insome fashion (e.g., received from the attendee or automatically obtainedvia a system processor). In the present example it is assumed that asystem processor derives a unique identifier such as an attendee'sinitials from the identifying information. In the present exampleattendee initials are provided with each of the separate computer iconsso that the attendee associated with each specific icon can easily beidentified. For instance, in FIG. 35, the initials ASD, are associatedwith computer icon 1102 while initials SSC are associated with icon 1103to indicate identity of the attendees using the interface devicesassociated with icons 1102 and 1103, respectively.

Here, it is contemplated, in at least some embodiments, that when one ofthe computer icons (e.g., 1102) is selected, the information currentlydisplayed via the laptop associated with the selected icon issimultaneously displayed via the master unit 902. More specifically,when one of the computer icons is selected, a window is opened on themaster unit screen that corresponds to the associated laptop and theinformation currently displayed via the associated laptop issimultaneously displayed via the master unit. For example, referringagain to FIGS. 29, 35 and 36, assume that personal interface devices 911and 913 are used by conference attendees having the initials “ASD” and“SSC” and that the two attendees would like to share sales informationwith other attendees for comparison purposes. Here, each attendee ASDand SSC can use interface device software to access the salesinformation to be presented and compared in a dedicated window, can usethe tool area 1031 provided via the attendee's interface device (seealso FIG. 34) to select the icon (i.e., icon 1102 or 1103) from space1058 corresponding to the specific user and can then maximize theinformation (i.e., increase the size to cover an entire interface devicescreen) to present the sales information via the master unit screen.

In FIG. 36, activity like that described above, causes exemplary windows1178 and 1181 to be opened to display sales information for attendeesASD and SSC as images 1179 and 1183, respectively. Referring to FIG. 36,when computer icon 1102 is selected (i.e., double clicked dragged intoworkspace area 1032, etc.), window 1178 is opened and an image 1179 isdisplayed therein corresponding to an image currently displayed by theinterface device associated with icon 1102. In FIG. 36 it is assumedthat user ASD has maximized the window including the displayedbi-quarterly results on her laptop computer so that window 1178 onlyshows the bi-quarterly results. Similarly, when icon 1103 is selected,window 1181 is opened and an image 1183 is displayed thereincorresponding to an image currently displayed by the interface deviceassociated with icon 1103. Thus, multiple windows corresponding tomultiple sources are openable via the master unit 902 within workspacearea 1004.

Referring again to FIGS. 29 and 36, because information includingwindows 1178 and 1181 that is displayed in workspace area 1004 can be“moved” and displayed via the slave projector units (i.e., the unitsthat project onto space 969), it is possible to show “live views” (i.e.,the information currently displayed via the personal computing devices911, 913, 915, etc.) of multiple personal computing devices on multipleslave images projected onto space 969. For instance, in FIG. 36, themaster unit user may increase the sizes of windows 1178 and 1181 (i.e.,drag corners of the windows) and move the windows (e.g., the top windowbar may be dragged to another location to move the window) so that thewindows 1178 and 1181 cover the top and bottom halves of area 1004 andthen move the image including windows 1178 and 1181 to slave space 904.Next, the master unit user may select two additional computer icons fromsection 1158 (see again FIG. 35) to display sales results currentlydisplayed via two other personal computing devices (e.g., 911, 913, 915,etc.) thereby opening two other windows in area 1004. After resizing thenewly opened windows to each cover half of area 1004, the user may thenmove the image including the new windows to slave space 906 in FIG. 29.This process can be repeated several times to display multiple livewindows in space 969.

In at least some embodiments an icon in section 1058 is selectable bytouching the icon with the tip of the mechanical stylus and dragging theicon into area 1004. In other cases an icon in section 1058 can beselected by tapping the stylus tip on the icon once or twice. To closean open window (e.g., 1178), each window includes a screen selectableclose icon 1185 (only one illustrated). Although not illustrated, window1178, 1181, etc., size may be altered in at least some embodiments sothat, for instance, windows 1178 and 1181 in FIG. 36 may be resized tofill the upper and lower halves of workspace area 1004.

When a window (e.g., 1178, 1181) is opened in area 1004, pen icon 1070is useable to mark anywhere within area 1004 including on the windowimages and between windows and other space within area 1004. Forexample. In FIG. 36, markings 1187 have been added to the informationdisplayed within section 1004 to highlight differences betweeninformation in each of windows 1178 and 1181 where the markings 1187 areon windows 1178 and 1181 as well as in the space between the windows.

In at least some embodiments, when an image displayed in workspace area1004 includes windows 1178, 1181, etc. and is minimized (i.e., isremoved from workspace area 1004 but still appears as a panel icon insection 1056) so that another image can be displayed or created withinsection 1004, the open windows remain associated with the minimizedimage such that, if the minimized image is again maximized (i.e.,displayed in section 1004), the windows are again presented. Similarly,when an image including windows is stored, the window information isstored along with the image such that when the image is reaccessed, thewindows are re-presented. In short, in these embodiments all informationpresented via area 1004 is maintained upon minimization and/or storagefor subsequent access.

Referring again to FIG. 36, stop and resume icons 1197 and 1199 areprovided adjacent close icons (e.g., 1158) at the top of each window1178, 1181, etc., associated with one of the personal computing devices.Stop icons 1197 are selectable to freeze the information displayed incorresponding windows. For instance, when icon 1197 is selected, thecurrently displayed information in window 1178 is maintainedirrespective of which information is displayed via the personalcomputing device associated with window 1178. To update window 1178 toreflect information currently displayed via the personal computingdevice associated with window 1178 after icon 1197 has been selected,resume icon 1199 is selectable.

With respect to video icon 1100, it is contemplated that, in at leastsome inventive embodiments, there may be video sources such as DVDplayers, cameras, tape players, hard drives, etc., that can providestreaming video clips useable by a presenter or an attendee during aconference. Icon 1100 corresponds to one video source and, whenselected, provides a corresponding video clip in a window. In FIG. 36, avideo window 1180 corresponding to source video icon 1100 is shown openand includes a video clip image 1190, source identifier information 1182and a control bar that includes a pause icon 1184, a play icon 1186 anda close icon 1188. The identifier information 1182 provides initialsidentifying an attendee that controls the video device that is thesource of the video. When window 1180 is opened, in at least someembodiments, clip 1190 automatically begins to play. Clip 1190 can bepaused by selecting icon 1184 and can be resumed by selecting icon 1186.Window 1180 is closable by selecting icon 1188. In at least someembodiments window controls 1184, 1186, 1188, etc., may be linked to aconference room control system to physically control window activity(e.g., play, pause, etc.).

Here, as in the case of windows 1178 and 1181, in at least someembodiments window 1180 can be moved and/or scaled within area 1004. Inaddition, multiple video type windows like window 1180 can be opened atone time and multiple video clips can be played at one time. Moreover,pen tool 1070 can be used to make markings on a video clip and/or on astill video clip image. In at least some embodiments, when an imageincluding a video type window is minimized and/or stored, the window isincluded with the image and is re-presented when the image is againaccessed via area 1004.

Easel icon 1098 is associated with an interface unit akin to master unit902. Referring again to FIG. 29, device 907 is a second large scaleinterface device like master unit 902 and may be used in severaldifferent ways. First, unit 907 may be used to, in effect, shadow unit902 and always display exactly what is displayed via unit 902 asdescribed above. Second, unit 907 may be used separately like one ofpersonal interface devices 911, 913, 915, etc., to run applicationsand/or create images. In this second case, unit 907 can be used as asource like interface devices 911, 913, 915, etc., and the imagedisplayed thereby can be duplicated via unit 902 when master unit icon1098 is selected. Although not illustrated there may be more than justtwo units 902 and 907.

To add a new source, a “+” icon 1104 that is spatially associated withsection icon 1158 is selectable. When icon 1104 is selected, in at leastsome embodiments, a window (not illustrated) will open that is useableto identify the new source to be added. In some embodiments the user ofa new source may attempt to join a conference via a personal interfacedevice or the like and may either automatically be admitted, may beaccepted by a current attendee in some fashion or via password entry,etc. In either case, when a new source is added, a new source icon islikewise added to section 1058. When a source is rendered in accessibleto a conference such as when an attendee using an interface device 915disconnects from the conference, the associated source icon is removedfrom section 1058.

Referring again to FIG. 35, panel section 1056 includes a separate panelicon corresponding to each image or newly opened image that has not beendeleted or closed during a presentation. In FIG. 35, twelve separatepanel icons are illustrated where each panel icon has been assigned andis labeled with one of numbers 1-12. Each panel icon includes athumbnail sketch of the image associated therewith. In the presentexample, while images are associated with each of panel icons 1, 2, 3and 5, no information has been associated with panel icons 4 and 6-12(i.e., blank pages have been created that correspond to icons 4 and 6-12and no images have been included on those pages). To create a new blankpage, a “+” icon 1094 spatially associated with section 1056 isselectable. Panel icons can be eliminated by selecting a panel icon andmoving the panel icon to a trash icon 1074 which is described in greaterdetail below.

Referring yet again to FIGS. 29 and 35, the panel icon corresponding toan image currently displayed via the master unit 902 is visuallydistinguished from other panel icons in section 1056. For example,referring again to FIGS. 32 and 35, when the image corresponding topanel icon 3 is displayed in workspace area 1004, the third panel iconis highlighted via a visually distinguishable box 1079 about the panelicon. In addition, as seen in FIG. 32, the icon number associated withthe panel icon that corresponds to the image being displayed via themaster unit is presented as part of the displayed image. For instance,in FIG. 32, the number 3 is illustrated in the upper right hand cornerof the image displayed in area 1004.

Referring still to FIG. 35, in at least some embodiments, in addition tovisually distinguishing a panel icon that corresponds to an imagecurrently being displayed via the master presentation unit 902, theinterface software visually distinguishes panel icons currentlypresented via the slave units. To this end, in FIG. 35, slave markers1082, 1084, 1086 and 1088 are provided on top of each panel icon thatcorresponds to a currently displayed slave image. Consistent with FIG.33, the slave markers are provided on top of each of the panel iconsassociated with panels labeled 1, 2, 3 and 5. Although not illustrated,in at least some embodiments, slave markers 1082, 1084, 1086 and 1088will appear at least somewhat translucent so that a presenter andattendees can see information there below and generally recognize whichpanel corresponds to which icon despite inclusion of the slave markers.

Referring once again to FIG. 29, in at least some embodiments it iscontemplated that when two or more subsystems 900, 901, etc., are linkedtogether for conferencing, the subsystems 900, 901, etc., may includedifferent numbers of slave images at certain times (e.g., one sub-systemmay include more slave hardware than another or others). For example,while system 900 displays four slave images, system 901 may display sixslave images, eight slave images, etc. (not illustrated). Wheresubsystems display different numbers of slave images, in at least someembodiments, it is contemplated that panel icons corresponding tocommonly displayed images will be visually distinguished via the masterpresentation unit 902 and that panel icons corresponding to uniquelydisplayed slave images (i.e., images only displayed via one or a sub-setof the sub-systems) will be visually distinguished in a differentmanner. To this end, referring once again to FIGS. 29 and 35, in thepresent example it will be assumed that images corresponding to panelicons 1, 2, 3 and 5 are commonly displayed via subsystems likesubsystems 900 and 901 while the images corresponding to panel icons 7and 8 are only displayed via a projector 899 associated with subsystem901. Here, the commonly displayed panels are marked with markers of onetype (see markers 1082, 1084, 1086 and 1088) while the uniquelydisplayed panels are marked with a second and different type of marker(see 1090 and 1092).

Referring once again to FIGS. 33 and 35, in at least some embodiments,when slave images are displayed, image labels corresponding to the panelicon numbers associated therewith are provided as part of each slaveimage. For instance, consistent with the markers 1082, 1084, 1086 and1088 in FIG. 35 that mark panels 1, 2, 3, and 5, the images 1022, 1024,1026 and 1028 in FIG. 33 include number labels 1, 2, 3 and 5,respectively.

To alter the displayed slave images, the presenter or a conferenceattendee can select one of the markers 1082, 1084, 1086 or 1088 and movethe marker to another one of the panel icons in section 1056. Thus, forexample, when a presenter moves marker 1084 from panel icon 2 to panelicon 10, an image corresponding to panel icon 10 is displayed onpresentation space 969 in the location occupied by image 1024 in FIG.33. Here, the displayed image would include the label “10” in the upperright-hand corner to indicate which image is currently being displayed.

In addition to the panel icons and the “+” icon 1094, in at least someembodiments a session icon 1091 is provided in section 1056 whichcorresponds to all of the images associated with panel icons in section1056.

Referring again to FIG. 35, tool section 1060 includes a save icon 1108,a settings icon 1110, and a zoom icon 1106. In at least someembodiments, images generated via a master unit 902 have to beseparately saved. Here, for instance, to save an image currentlydisplayed via master unit 902, icon 1108 is selectable which, in atleast some embodiments, opens up a menu including screen selectable“save”, “open”, “close” and “print” icons for saving images in asession, opening other images, closing a session without saving, orprinting session images, respectively. In other embodiments, when saveicon 1108 is selected, all of the images currently corresponding to anyof the panel icons in section 1056 are stored as part of a sessiondatabase such that, when the session database is subsequently accessed,all of the panels are re-presented so that, in effect, the conferencecan be picked up where it was left off. In still other embodimentssession icon 1091 may be selected and dragged to or otherwise associatedwith icon 1108 to store all session images.

Settings icon 1110 is selectable to access tools for altering settingsfor a current session such as a time before master unit 902 goes into ahibernation mode, how a mechanical stylus operates (e.g., one or two tapactivity, etc.), how a keyboard or mouse input device operates, etc.

Zoom icon 1106, as the label implies, is useable to change the size ofinformation currently displayed within workspace area 1004. To this end,icon 1106 includes selectable negative and positive ends and a slidingbutton indicator. By selecting the negative end of icon 1106, the sizeof an image currently displayed in workspace area 1004 is reduced whileselecting the positive end increases the size of the displayed image. Tothis end, referring also to FIG. 37, an initial image 1156 correspondingto panel icon 3 is shown in a reduced size format within a dashed box1158 which frees up space 1157 within area 1004 for adding additionalinformation. In FIG. 37, additional information 1160 has been added viapen tool 1070. Although not illustrated, where an image is enlarged suchthat the image is too large to fit in area 1004, scrolling icons may beprovided for left-right and up-down scrolling to access differentsections of the image. In other cases, the growth of data withinworkspace 1004 may be restricted so that the information never extendspast the displayed area which renders scroll bars and/or toolsunnecessary.

Referring one more time to FIG. 35, target space 1054 includes anenvelope icon 1072, a printer icon 1076 and a trash can icon 1074.Envelope icon 1072 corresponds to an e-mail function whereby, when apanel icon in section 1056 is associated with envelope icon 1072, theimage associated with the panel icon is e-mailed to some destination.For instance, in at least some embodiments, a presenter may select panelicon 1 in section 1056 and drag that panel icon to envelope icon 1072after which the master unit software requests an e-mail address of aperson to which the associated image should be e-mailed. In otherembodiments, when a panel icon is associated with envelope icon 1072,the associated image is automatically e-mailed to each registeredconference attendee such as, for instance, each attendee associated withone of the sources corresponding to icons in section 1058. E-mailinformation may be stored in a separate device such as a room wizard orthe like. In still other embodiments, when icon 1072 is selected whilean image is displayed in area 1004, a copy of the image in area 1004 ise-mail to one or more destinations. In some embodiments when sessionicon 1091 is dragged to or otherwise associated with icon 1072, copiesof all of the images associated with the session are e-mailed to one ormore destinations. Other mail routing schemes are contemplated.

Printer icon 1076 corresponds to a printer and, as the label implies,when a panel icon or the session icon 1091 from section 1056 isassociated with printer icon 1076, a hard copy of the image or imagescorresponding to the panel icon or session icon 1091 is printed. Here,association may take the form of dragging a panel icon to printer icon1076.

Trash can icon 1074 is useable to delete or remove panel icons fromsection 1056. To this end, when a panel icon from section 1056 isdragged to or otherwise associated with trash can icon 1074, the panelicon is removed from section 1056. When a panel icon or an image in area1004 is associated with icon 1074, in at least some cases, it iscontemplated that a page trashing animation or audio presentation willoccur. For instance, when an image is trashed, a large page crumplinganimation may be presented via area 1004 and/or audio output that soundslike crumpling paper.

Referring once again to FIG. 32, in addition to being useable to selecton-screen button icons within workspace area 1004, the pointer toolcorresponding to pointer icon 1064 can be used for other purposes. Forinstance, in at least some inventive embodiments, the pointer tool 1064can be used to select information within an image in area 1004 to beresized. To this end, in FIG. 32, a pointer icon 1010 is illustratedthat has been used to select a rectilinear space 1008 that includes aportion of the information displayed in area 1004. The rectilinear spaceis shown by a dotted line. After space 1008 has been selected, pointericon 1010 may be used to select a corner of the box about space 1008 anddrag that corner outward or inward relative to space 1008 to resize theportion of the image within the box.

As another instance, the pointer icon 1010 may be used to, after a spacehas been selected within area 1004, move information within the space toa different location within area 1004. Thus, for example, while notillustrated, in FIG. 32, after space 1008 has been selected, icon 1010may be used to move the information within space 1008 from the upperleft-hand corner of area 1004 down to the lower right-hand corner wherethe information may be dropped.

As yet one other instance, in at least some embodiments, it iscontemplated that pointer 1010 may be used to move information from animage displayed via workspace area 1004 to one of the panel icons intool area 1002 and hence to an image associated with the panel icon. Inthis regard, referring still to FIG. 32, after space 1008 has beendefined, pointer icon 1010 can be used to move the information in space1008 up and into an associating position relative to one of the panelicons in area 1002. Referring also to FIG. 38, area 1008 is shown asattached to icon 1010 which is moved up to panel icon 6 to move theinformation in space 1008 to the image associated with panel icon 6.Referring also to FIG. 39, after information has been moved to the imageassociated with panel icon 6, the next time the image associated withpanel icon 6 is displayed via either the master unit 902 or as one ofthe slave images, the information moved thereto is presented as avisually distinguished part of the image. In FIG. 39, space 1008 isillustrated in the upper left-hand corner with a rectilinear dotted linebox therearound to visually distinguish the information from theremainder of the image. The pointer icon can be used at this time tomove space 1008 to any location within area 1004. The pointer icon canalso be used to click, double click, drag, etc., on a personal computingdevice “remote view” as they are locally connected. In addition, aseparate keyboard can be used to type information into the personalcomputing device.

Referring once again to FIGS. 30 and 31, as described above, in at leastsome embodiments, it is contemplated that the display screen 955 of amaster unit 951 may be rotated between portrait and landscapeorientations and that, when the display is rotated, several thingsoccur. First, as illustrated, when screen 955 is rotated from theportrait orientation to the landscape orientation, the on-screen iconsor tools may be rearranged to best accommodate presentation ofinformation. To this end, referring once again to FIG. 32 and asdescribed above, it has been recognized that, to the extent possible,workspace area 1004 should have dimensions that are similar to thedimensions of a typical flip-chart page irrespective of the master unitdisplay format (i.e., aspect ratio) and orientation. In this regard, atypical flip-chart page will usually have between a 3:2 and a 4:3 formatwhile master unit display screens will typically come in two differentformats including either a 4:3 or a 16:9 format. In at least someembodiments, to provide a workspace area 1004 that generally has a 4:3or 3:2 format, the tool area may be differently oriented when a masterdisplay screen is in the portrait and landscape orientations. In thisregard, referring also to FIG. 32, in at least some embodiments, when a16:9 format master unit screen 955 is in the portrait orientation, thetool area 1002 is presented along the upper edge of screenshots 1000. Inat least some cases, the tool area 1002 will have an 18:5 format (i.e.,18 wide by 5 high) which leaves a 2:3 format workspace 1004. In thiscase, in at least some embodiments, because the master image presentedhas a 2:3 format, each of the displayed slave images may also have a 2:3format (see generally FIG. 30).

Referring to FIG. 40, when a 16:9 format master unit screen is rotatedinto the landscape orientation, in at least some embodiments, the toolarea 1202 is provided along a left-hand edge of a resulting screen shot1200 with a workspace area 1216 to the right thereof. Here, area 1216 ispresented in a 4:3 format with the tool area 1202 presented in a 4:9format. In FIG. 40, to accommodate all of the tool icons in area 1202that were accommodated in area 1002 (see also FIG. 32), the tool iconsare rearranged. Nevertheless, the tools have a similar look and feel tothe tools that were provided when the screen was in the portraitorientation and therefore operation thereof should be intuitive. In atleast some embodiments when the master unit screen is rotated into thelandscape orientation, the slave images are also rotated from portraitinto landscape orientation and the sizes of the slave images areincreased such that a reduced set of slave images are presented (see andcompare FIGS. 33 and 41). In the example illustrated in FIGS. 33 and 41,instead of presenting four portrait slave images as in FIG. 33 afterrotation into the landscape orientation, only two slave images arepresented on space 969 and each of those images is in the landscapeorientation. Just as area 1216 in FIG. 40 has a 4:3 format, slave imagesin FIG. 41 would also have a 4:3 format in this example.

In at least some embodiments, when a master unit screen is rotatedbetween portrait orientation and landscape orientation, toolarea/workspace area repositioning as well as slave image rotation isautomatic. In other embodiments, however, it is contemplated that apresenter will have to take affirmative action in addition to physicalrotation to effect the presentation changes. In this regard, referringagain to FIG. 35, in at least some embodiments, an orientation changebutton icon 1112 is provided in tool section 1060 for switching betweenportrait and landscape orientations. Thus, when button 1112 is selectedand the information is currently displayed via the master unit screensuch that the workspace area is in a portrait orientation, the displayedinformation is rearranged so that the workspace area is in a landscapeorientation and the tool area is repositioned accordingly.

Referring once again to FIG. 40, modifications to at least some of thetool icons when the master screen is in the landscape orientation are ofinterest. First, referring also to FIG. 32, instead of presenting thepanel icons labeled 1-12 in a portrait orientation, in FIG. 40, thepanel icons 1-12 are presented in a landscape orientation similar to theorientation of workspace area 1216. Second, in embodiments where thenumber of displayed slave images is different when the master screen isin the portrait and landscape orientations, the number of markers onpanel icons will be automatically changed to reflect only the displayedimages. In this regard, in FIG. 40, consistent with the example abovewhere the number of slave images displayed is cut from 4 to 2 when amaster unit screen is rotated from the portrait orientation to thelandscape orientation, only two markers 1204 and 1206 are provided inFIG. 40 that are associated with the panels labeled 1 and 2 and themarker icons that were previously associated with panels 3 and 4 havebeen removed.

Referring now to FIGS. 42 and 43, exemplary screenshots 1221 and 1240are illustrated that correspond to portrait and landscape orientationsof a 4:3 format screen. In FIG. 42, portrait oriented screenshot 1221includes a relatively thin tool area 1225 that extends along a left edgethereof and a workspace area 1223 to the right of tool area 1225. Thetool area has a 1:12 format while the workspace area 1223 has a 2:3format. In FIG. 43, the on-screen tool icons are divided into twoseparate sub-groups and are arranged in two separate tool areas, a firstarea 1242 along the left edge of the screenshot 1240 and a second area1246 along the lower edge of screenshot 1240. In FIG. 43, the sourceicons are provided within second area 1246 and all other tool icons areprovided in first area 1242. The remaining area 1244 forms a workspacearea which, in this embodiment, has a 4:3 format. In at lease someembodiments, first tool area 1242 will have a 1:9 format and second area1246 will have a 16:1 format. Other screenshot formats are contemplated.

Referring now to FIG. 44, a second exemplary tool area 1300 that issimilar to area 1002 shown in FIG. 35 is illustrated. Many of the toolicons shown in tool area 1300 are identical or substantially identicalto the tool icons shown in FIG. 35 and operate in a similar fashion andtherefore, in the interest of simplifying this explanation, many of thetool icons shown in FIG. 44 will not again be described here in detail.The primary distinction between tool area 1300 and tool area 1002 is theway in which panel icons or session image representations within area1300 that correspond to images presented via slave presentation spacesor units are visually distinguished from other panel icons or sessionimage representations (i.e., session image representations that are notassociated with currently presented slave images). In FIG. 44, currentlypresented slave images are identified as 1; 2; 3; 4; 5; and 6; that arepresented in slave presentation spaces 1310, 1312, 1314, 1316, 1318 and1320, respectively. In this regard, referring to FIGS. 35 and 44, whilepanel icons that are associated with currently displayed slave images inFIG. 35 are marked via token icons (e.g., 1083, 1084, etc.), in toolarea 1300, panel icons associated with currently presented slave imagesare provided within a slave representation area 1302 that iscircumscribed by a field boundary (also labeled 1302) that forms a box.In the illustrated example, the slave representation area 1302 isprovided in the upper left hand corner of the space within tool area1300 reserved for panel icons.

Referring still to FIG. 44, slave representation area 1302 is furtherdivided into a plurality of slave representation fields, a separatefield for each of the slave image presentation spaces in which slaveimages can be displayed. For example, where a presentation systemincludes three projectors and each projector can project two separateimages so that the system can project a total of six slave images, theslave representation area 1302 includes six separate slaverepresentation fields. Consistent with this example, in FIG. 44, sixseparate slave presentation spaces 1310, 1312, 1314, 1316, 1318 and 1320for presenting six slave images 1 i, 2 i, 3 i, 4 i, 5 i, and 6 i forconference attendees to view are illustrated. Here, slave representationarea 1302 is divided into first through sixth separate slaverepresentation fields that are aligned in a single row within area 1302and that are identified by numerals 1301, 1303, 1305, 1307, 1309 and1311, respectively. Additional session image representation fields 1313,1315, 1317, 1319, 1321 and 1323 are provide outside slave representationarea 1302 for panel icons that are not associated with currentlypresented slave images. In FIG. 44, panel icons within slaverepresentation area 1302 are identified by numeral 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6and correspond to currently presented slave images identified by labels1 i, 2 i, 3 i, 4 i, 5 i and 6 i that are presented within slavepresentation spaces 1310, 1312, 1314, 1316, 1318 and 1320, respectively.

Several ways to modify which slave images are presented via aconferencing system by manipulating icons within tool area 1300 arecontemplated. To this end, referring to FIG. 45, one way to modifypresented slave images is to select one of the panel icons within slaverepresentation area 1302 via a mouse controlled cursor or the like anddrag the selected icon or representation to another location outsidearea 1302. In FIG. 45, a dragging action is shown wherein panel icon 4is dragged from slave representation field 1307 down to a field 1325located outside area 1302 as indicated by arrow 1340. When icon 4 isreleased, the panel icon 4 is positioned within field 1325 adjacentpanel icon 12.

Referring still to FIG. 45, when panel icon 4 is removed from slaverepresentation area 1302, field 1307 is empty and, as illustrated, theimage 4 i previously presented within slave presentation space 1316(compare FIGS. 44 and 45) is removed leaving space 1316 blank.

Referring once again to FIG. 44, another way to modify the imagescurrently presented via the slave presentation spaces is to select oneof the panel icons within slave representation area 1302 via a mousecontrolled pointing icon or the like and drag the selected panel icon toanother location within area 1302. For example, although notillustrated, a pointing icon may be used to select panel icon 4 and dragthe selected representation to a location between fields 1301 and 1303.When the selected panel icon is released between fields 1301 and 1303,the panel icon 4 is placed within field 1303 and panel icons 2 and 3 aremoved one field to the right into fields 1305 and 1307, respectively. Asthe panel icons within area 1302 are repositioned in this manner, theimages presented with presentation spaces 1312, 1314 and 1316 aresimilarly modified such that images 4 i, 2 i and 3 i are presentedwithin presentation spaces 1312, 1314, and 1316.

Referring now to FIG. 46, another way to modify the currently presentedslave images is to move a panel icon from outside representation area1302 to a location within area 1302. For example, referring to FIG. 46,a pointer icon may be used to select panel icon 11 and to drag theselected panel icon to a location within area 1302 between fields 1303and 1305 as indicated by arrow 1342. Here, referring also to FIG. 47,when panel icon 11 is released between fields 1303 and 1305, panel icon3 is moved from its location in field 1305 to field 1307 and panel icon11 is positioned with field 1305. Reflecting the change, within area1302, the presented slave images in slave presentation spaces 13 14 and1316 are updated to include images 11 i and 3 i (see FIG. 47). Inaddition, because panel icon 11 has been moved from field 1321, panelicons to the right of field 1321 are moved one field to the left asindicated by arrows 1350 and 1352 that show panel icons 12 and 4 movingleftward, respectively. Thus, when a panel icon is moved intorepresentation area 1302 and to a location before an empty field, panelicons within area 1302 to the right of the location to which the panelicon is dragged move one field to the right and the next empty field tothe right receives a panel icon.

Referring to FIG. 48, with a separate panel icon in each of the slaverepresentation fields in area 1302, when another panel icon is moved toa specific location within area 1302, panel icons within fields to theright of the specific location within area 1302 move one field to theright and the right most panel icon within area 1302 is moved out ofarea 1302. For example, as shown in FIG. 48, when panel icon 12 isselected from field 1321 and dragged to a location between fields 1301and 1303 within area 1302, when panel icon 12 is released, panel icon 2moves one field to the right, icon 11 moves one field to the right, icon3 moves one field to the right and so on to clear field 303 for panelicon 12. This rippling effect of panel icon movement is shown in FIG. 49by multidirectional arrow 1362. As shown in FIG. 49, panel icon 6 whichwas initially located within field 1311 inside representation areas 1302is moved to field 1313 outside area 1302. As seen in FIG. 49, as thepanel icons within fields 1301, 1303, 1305, 1307, 1309 and 1311 aremodified, the images presented within slave presentation spaces 1310,1312, 1314, 1316, 1318 and 1320 are similarly modified. Thus, becausepanel icons 1, 12, 2, 11, 3 and 5 are shown in fields 1301, 1303, 1305,1307, 1309 and 1311, corresponding images 1 i, 12 i, 2 i, 11 i, 3 i and5 i are presented within spaces 1310, 1312, 1314, 1316, 1318 and 1320,respectively.

In at least some applications it is contemplated that when twopresentation systems located in different conferencing spaces are linkedto facilitate remote conferencing between two different groups ofconference attendees, as described above, one of the systems may supportmore slave presentation spaces than the other. For example, a firstpresentation system may include three projectors where each projector iscapable of presenting two separate images for a total of six slaveimages while a second system may include four projectors, each projectorcapable of displaying two separate slave images for a total of eightslave images. Here, in at least some cases, it is contemplated thatpanel icons corresponding to slave images that are common to both thefirst and second systems may be presented within a shared or primaryslave representation area while panel icons corresponding to currentlypresented slave image that are presented by only one of the systems maybe shown in a secondary slave representation area. To this end,referring to FIG. 50, a secondary slave representation area 1366 isshown adjacent a primary slave representation area 1302 and includes twoadditional slave representation fields 1368 and 1370 that correspond toseventh and eighth slave presentation spaces 1321 a 1323 a of one of thepresentation systems. In FIG. 50, slave presentation spaces 1310, 1312,1314, 1316, 1318 and 1320 corresponding to a first presentation systempresent images 1 i, 12 i, 2 i, 11 i, 3 i and 5 i, respectively, whichare associated with panel icons 1, 12, 2, 11, 3 and 5, respectively, inslave representation area 1302. Similarly, images 1 i, 12 i, 2 k, 11 i,3 i, and 5 i are presented via the second system in slave presentationspaces 1310 a, 1312 a, 1314 a, 1316 a, 1318 a and 1320 a, respectively,while images 6 i and 7 i are presented in presentation spaces 1321 a1323 a that correspond to fields 1368 and 1370 in secondary slaverepresentation area 1366.

In at least some embodiments it is contemplated that, when twopresentation systems are linked to facilitate remote conferencingbetween two groups of conference attendees, upon delinking of the twosystem, each of the systems will retain copies of session images suchthat the session may be continued despite termination of the remotelink. When the remote link is terminated, where a first system supportsfewer slave presentations spaces than a second system, upon delinking,the secondary slave representation area 1366 is removed so that panelicons therein are no longer visually distinguished in the first system.Here, in the case of the second system, the primary slave representationarea 1302 is expanded to include panel icons and associated fieldscorresponding to all of the supported slave presentation spaces. Thus,for instance, where first and second systems are linked and slaverepresentation area 1302 is populated with icons as illustrated in FIG.50, upon delinking, the first system generates a tool area 1300 asillustrated in FIG. 49 wherein the representation area 1302 includes sixpanel icons while the second system generates a tool area 1300 asillustrated in FIG. 51 where the slave representation area 1302 aincludes eight panel icons and eight separate slave representationfields (not labeled).

In at least some embodiments it is contemplated that, when computers orsecondary conferencing systems are used to remotely participate in aconference, in at least some cases it would be advantageous to printsession images to any printing resources linked to computing devicesused to facilitate the conference. For example, where four peopleparticipate in a conference via four remotely located laptops and eachof the laptops is associated with a specific primary printer locatedproximate the laptop (e.g., within the same office) at the end of aconference, a conference leader may want to distribute hard copies ofsession images to each of the remote attendees.

To facilitate remote distribution of hard copies of session images, inat least some inventive embodiments it is contemplated that, when aremotely located device is used to connect to a conference, a servermanaging the conference will poll the remote device to identify printersassociated therewith and will then store network addresses associatedwith the identified printers for subsequent use. Thereafter, referringto FIG. 52, any time during a conference or thereafter, a system usermay select printer icon 1076 to open a print window 1380. Exemplaryprint window 1380 includes a list 1382 of printers associated withdevices used to facilitate a conferencing session, a separate selectionfield 1384 for each one of the associated printers and a print buttonicon 1386. Here, to print to a subset of the printers associated withdevices used to facilitate the conference, a system user simply selectsa subset of the fields 1384 corresponding to the printers targeted forprinting in list 1382 and then selects print icon 1386 to send completecopies of the session images to each of the selected printers forprinting.

Referring now to FIG. 53, a method 1390 for identifying printersassociated with networking devices when devices are linked to aconference is illustrated. At process block 1392, a conference iscommenced via a master presentation unit. At block 1394, a conferencingserver monitors a network linked to the master presentation unit forrequests to connect from remote devices (e.g., laptop computers, desktopcomputers, secondary master presentation units, etc.). At decision block1396, when no request is received to connect, control passes back up toblock 1394 where monitoring continues. After a request to connect isreceived at block 1396, control passed to block 1398 where theconferencing server polls the connecting device for associated printers.At block 1400, the conferencing server stores the network addresses inan associated database for the identified printers for subsequent useand control passes back up to block 1394 where the server continues tomonitor for requests from additional devices to join the conference.

Referring to FIG. 54, a method for printing session images to printersassociated with devices used to facilitate a conference is illustrated.At block 1404, the conferencing server monitors for a print command. Atblock 1406, where no print command is received control passes back up toblock 1404 where monitoring continues. At decision block 1406, after aprint command is received, control passes to block 1408 where the listof printers stored at block 1400 in FIG. 53 is accessed and is providedwithin a print window (see 1380 in FIG. 52). At decision block 1410, theconferencing server monitors to determine when print options have beenselected. Until print options are selected, control loops back up toblock 1408. After print options are selected, control passes to block1412 where the conferencing server prints session images to all of theselected printers after which control passes back up to block 1404 wherethe server continues to monitor for print commands.

In addition to being able to send session images to all devices linkedto a conferencing session for printing purposes, in at least someembodiments it is contemplated that it would be advantageous to be ableto quickly and easily distribute electronic copies of session images toboth local and remote conference attendees. To this end, in at leastsome cases it is contemplated that when a person agrees to attend aconference or remotely logs into a conferencing session, some processorassociated with a conference may be programmed to request or obtain andstore an e-mail address for the attendee. Thereafter, referring now toFIG. 55, after at least one session image has been generated, when mailicon 1072 is selected, in at least some cases, session images may bedistributed electronically to all of the previously stored e-mailaddresses associated with a specific session. In other cases, when mailicon 1072 is selected, a mail window (not illustrated) akin to printwindow 1380 in FIG. 52 may be opened to allow a system user to select asubset of conference attendees to receive electronic versions of thesession images.

Referring still again to FIG. 55, an exemplary system 1420 includes amaster presentation unit 1422, a conferencing server 1432, a conferenceroom wizard 1434, a networking server 1430, a network 1426 to facilitateremote linking and a plurality of remotely located laptops 1428 a, 1428b, 1428 c and 1428 d. Master unit 1422 is linked to conferencing server1432 which is in turn linked to room wizard 1434. Room wizard 1434 islinked to networking server 1430 which is connected via network 1426 toremote computers 1428 a through 1428 d. Here, in at least some cases,room wizard 1434 is used to set up or schedule a conference for aconferencing room in which master presentation unit 1422 will be used.As conference attendees register via the remote computers (e.g., 1428 a,1428 b, etc.) and network 1426, room wizard 1434 receives and storese-mail addresses for each attendee. Thereafter, when session images areto be e-mailed to attendees, master unit 1422 sends the images to roomwizard 1434 which in turn distributes the images to the sessionattendees via the stored e-mail addresses.

Referring now to FIG. 56, a method 1440 for obtaining e-mail address ofconference attendees is illustrated. At block 1442, a conferenceinitiator uses a remote device such as laptop 1428 a to link to roomwizard 1434 and schedule a conference. As part of the conferencescheduling process, in initiator identifies other people that theinitiator would like to invite to the conference at block 1444. At block1446, room wizard 1434 identifies and stores e-mail addresses for eachof the conference invitees for subsequent use.

Referring to FIG. 57, a method 1450 for e-mailing session images toconference attendees is illustrated. At process block 1452, server 1432monitors for an e-mail command from master unit 1422. At decision block1454, until an e-mail command is received, control passes back up toblock 1452. After an e-mail command is received at block 1454, controlpasses to block 1456 where server 1432 sends session images to roomwizard 1434. At block 1458, room wizard 1434 e-mails copies of thesession images to the conference attendees at the stored e-mailaddresses.

Here, it should be appreciated that, in at least some cases, it iscontemplated that the functions of room wizard 1434 or functions akinthereto may be performed by the conferencing server 1432 so that roomwizard 1434 may not be required. To this end, instead of scheduling aconference via a room wizard 1434, conferences may be scheduled or useof a conferencing system may be scheduled via software operated byconferencing server 1432.

While most of the systems described above include either separate masterand slave presentation units or a single presentation unit that includesmultiple presentation spaces including at least one master and severalslave presentation spaces where the single unit is stationarily mounted,in at least some case it is contemplated that it may be advantageous toprovide a portable presentation system that includes both a masterpresentation space and one or more slave presentation spaces. To thisend, referring to FIG. 58, an exemplary portable presentation system1460 is illustrated and includes a single presentation housing structure1462 mounted at a top end of leg members 1470 and 1472 where casters orwheels collectively identified by numeral 1474 are provided at thebottom ends of leg members 1470 and 1472. Here, a master presentationspace 1464 and two slave presentation spaces 1466 and 1468 are providedin a front surface (not labeled) of housing structure 1462. In at leastsome embodiments all of the presentation spaces 1464, 1466 and 1468 maybe provided via a single flat panel monitor screen. In otherembodiments, each of the three presentation spaces 1464, 1466 and 1468may be provided by a separate electronic flat panel display screen. Instill other embodiments, master space 1464 may be provided by aninteractive flat panel display screen while spaces 1466 and 1468 areprovided by a rear projector unit. In still other cases, all threespaces 1464, 1466 and 1468 may be provided via a single projector unitmounted within housing structure 1462. In at least some cases positionsensing devices will be provided for sensing the location of a pointingdevice (e.g., a stylus or a users' finger) within space 1464.

Referring now to FIG. 59, a second exemplary portable conferencingsystem 1480 is illustrated that includes a single housing structure 1482and that provides a master presentation space 1484 and two slavepresentation spaces 1486 and 1488 in a single front surface (notlabeled) of the housing structure 1482. In FIG. 59, slave presentationspaces 1486 and 1488 are arranged so as to be horizontally longer thanthey are vertically which is the exact opposite of the systemillustrated in FIG. 58.

In at least some embodiments it is contemplated that any type ofpointing device may be used to directly interact with a masterpresentation unit via contact. For instance, a unit operator may be ableto use the tip of her finger to select on-screen icons, to draw within awork space, to erase objects within a work space, to select and dragobjects within a work space, etc. or, may be able to use a stylus or pentype device to perform the same functions.

Where a finger or a stylus type device can each be employed, it has beenrecognized that, in at least some embodiments, operator interaction witha master unit can be enhanced by employing dual sensing technologies anddifferent algorithms depending upon which of a finger and anotherpointing device are employed to perform interactive functions.

Referring to FIG. 60, in at least some embodiments, the primary sensorfor sensing interactivity with a display surface 1604 of a masterpresentation unit 1602 will include a laser 1606 or other system thatgenerates a light plane 1610 parallel to and slightly separated fromsurface 1604 by a gap 1612 (e.g., ⅛ to ¼ inch). In these systems,surface interaction and interaction location are generally determined bysensing light plane 1610 penetration and the location at which thepenetration occurs.

While light plane type sensing systems work well, these types of systemshave some shortcomings. One primary shortcoming where a light sensorsystem is exclusively employed is that interactivity is often sensedimmediately before and just after contact is made with surface 1604. Inthis regard, most users that interact with a display surface prefer forthe interactivity to mimic interaction with a conventional writingsurface such as a paper flip chart sheet where interaction only occursduring contact with the sheet surface. Because of gap 1612, a lightplane sensing system senses activity whenever plane 1610 is penetratedand irrespective of whether or not simultaneous contact with surface1604 occurs. Thus, as a fingertip or a stylus tip is moved toward (oraway from) surface 1604 to generate a stroke, if the tip moves withinplane 1610 prior to and/or after contact with surface 1604, the strokewill include a front portion and/or a rear portion in addition to theportion that occurs during contact. Hereafter, this non-contact activitywill be referred to generally as “non-contact activity” unless indicatedotherwise. Usually non-contact activity only occurs over a shortduration (e.g., 0.5 to 1.0 seconds).

It has been recognized that while non-contact activity is bothersome inall cases (e.g., words and letters may tend to undesirably run into eachother), such activity is particularly bothersome in the case where astylus/pen type device is used to interact as opposed to a finger tip.In this regard, a finger tip is a relatively blunt instrument whencompared to a stylus/pen tip and non-contact activity is therefore lessbothersome when a finger tip is employed.

In at least some inventive systems, in addition to a light plane sensingsystem for sensing penetration location, a secondary sensing system isemployed for sensing contact of a stylus/pen tip with a display surface.To this end, referring again to FIG. 60, the secondary sensing systemincludes a stylus/pen device 1620 and a receiver 1608. Stylus device1620 includes a tip contact sensor 1622 and an rf or other typetransmitter 1624. Sensor 1622, as the label implies, senses when the tipof the device 1620 contacts a surface such as, for instance, displaysurface 1604. When surface 1604 is contacted, transmitter 1624 transmitsan rf or other type signal to receiver indicating that a device otherthan a finger tip has contacted surface 1604. In addition, device 1620may transmit additional information such as the nature of device 1620(e.g., a pen, eraser, pointing device, etc.) color, swath thickness,etc.

A processor 1630 linked to receiver 1608 and the penetration sensor (notseparately labeled) that forms part of the light plane sensing system isprogrammed to identify both position using the light plane sensingsystem and contact using signals from receiver 1608. Thus, according toone inventive method when a finger is employed to interact with surface1604, non-contact activity may occur, but when a transmitting stylustype device is employed, non-contact activity can be eliminated.

To distinguish between stylus and finger interactivity, at least someinventive embodiments include a system processor (see 1630 in FIG. 60)programmed to perform the distinguishing method illustrated in FIG. 61.Here, it is assumed that the processor 1630 is programmed to operate ineither one of two interactive modes including a finger mode and a stylusmode. When in the finger mode, all sensed interactivity with a displaysurface 1604 causes interactive results. In contrast, during stylus modeoperation, only interactive activity that occurs when the stylustransmits a “contact signal” open tip 1622 contacting a surface (e.g.,surface 1604) causes interactive results.

Referring at block 1562, when the master unit shown in FIG. 60 isinitially activated, the master unit processor 1630 sets the operatingmode to the finger mode. At block 1564, a timer T is set equal to zero,flag labeled flag1 is set equal to zero and a threshold duration T_(r)is set. For example, to one second.

Referring still to FIGS. 60 and 61, at block 1566, processor at block1568, where no light plane penetration has occurred, control passes upto block 1566. After light plane penetration does occur at block 1568,control passes to block 1570.

At block 1570, processor 1630 determines whether or not the currentlyset mode is the finger mode or the stylus mode. Where the stylus mode isset, control passes from block 1570 to block 1572. At block 1572,processor 1630 stores penetration location information. At block 1574,processor 1630 starts timer T. At block 1578, processor 1630 determineswhether or not a stylus signal has been received from a transmittingstylus like the stylus 1620 illustrated in FIG. 60. When a transmittedstylus signal is received, control passes to block 1569 where the storedpenetration data is deleted. At block 1571, flag1 is set equal to one toindicate that, for the current light plane penetration, a stylus signalhas been received. At block 1573, processor 1630 commences drawing aline from the current location after which control passes back up toblock 1578. While a stylus signal continues to be received, controlpasses from block 1578 down through block 1573 and line drawingcontinues. At block 1578, when a stylus user lifts the stylus 1620 sothat the tip thereof no longer is in contact with display service 1604,control passes from decision block 1578 to decision block 1576. Whenflag1 is equal to 1 indicating that a stylus signal was previouslyreceived during display surface interaction, control passes from block1576 to block 1577 where processor 1630 causes the master unit to haltline drawing after which control passes back up to block 1564 where thetimer T and flag1 are reset. After block 1564, the process describedabove continues.

Referring still to FIG. 61, after timer T is started at block 1574 andcontrol passes to block 1578, if a stylus signal is not received byprocessor 1630, control passes to block 1576. The control passes fromblock 1574 to block 1578 and then to block 1576, flag1 will not equalone because no stylus signal was received corresponding to the currentlight plane penetration and therefore control will pass from block 1576to decision block 1565. At block 1565, processor 1630 determines whetheror not penetration continues. Where penetration ceases, control passesfrom block 1565 to block 1578 where the stored penetration data is usedto draw a line. After block 1578, control passes back up to block 1562as illustrated where the finger mode is reset.

Referring yet again to FIG. 61, where penetration continues at block1565, control passes to block 1580. Timer value T is compared tothreshold duration T_(r). Here, it has been recognized that whenever astylus or a finger tip or any other device is used to contact a displaysurface 1604, there may be a short period between the time when the tipor device penetrates light plane 1610 and when the tip or devicecontacts surface 1604. Threshold duration T_(r) is set equal to areasonable time period for passing from the light plane level to thesurface contacting level. For example, in some cases, duration T_(r) maybe one second, two seconds, one-half second, etc. When the thresholdduration is exceeded, processor 1630 is programmed to perform as if thetip or device that penetrated light plane 1610 is a tip or device otherthan a transmitting stylus type device and control passes to block 1561.At block 1561, processor 1630 sets the mode to the finger mode. At block1563, processor 1630 uses the stored data to draw a line penetrationlocation. After block 1563, control passes to block 1631 in FIG. 61.

Referring again to FIG. 61, at block 1570, when the system is in thefinger mode, control passes to block 1579 where commences line drawingat the current light plane penetration location. After block 1579,control passes to block 1631 where processor 1630 determines whether ornot penetration continues. Where penetration ceases, control passes toblock 1577 where processor 1630 ceases line drawing after which controlpasses to block 1564.

At block 1631, while penetration continues, control passes to block 1632where processor 1630 caused the master unit to continue drawing a lineat the current penetration location. At block 1634, processor 1630determines whether or not a stylus signal has been received. If nostylus signal has been received, processor 1630 continues to operate infinger mode and control passes back up to block 1631 where the processdescribed above is repeated. At block 1634, if a stylus signal isreceived, control passes to block 1636 where processor 1630 sets thestylus mode. Processor 1630 erases the line currently being drawn up tothe current penetration location after which control passes to block1571 where flag 1 is again set equal to one to indicate that a stylussignal has been received.

While the stylus/finger mode setting algorithm has been described abovein the context of a stylus that continually transmits a signal when thestylus tip contacts the surface of a display, in other embodiments thestylus may transmit pen down and pen up signals when the stylus makesinitial contact and when contact ceases, respectively, and the processormay be programmed to recognize the period between down and up signals asa contact period.

According to another inventive aspect, a system that includes a masterunit and multiple slave presentation spaces can be used to facilitateunique help functions where help information can be providedsimultaneously via a subset of presentation spaces and/or during normaloperation of the system to perform interactive tasks. To this end,referring to FIG. 62, a master unit screen shot 1509 and related firstthrough sixth slave presentation spaces 1522, 1524, 1526, 1528, 1530 and1532, respectively, are illustrated where the master screen shotincludes, among other things, a workspace area 1510, a tool area 1300, aslave representation area 1302 and a help button 1512. In at least someinventive embodiments, when help button 1510 is selected, a help window1516 is opened within workspace area 1510 that presents help topics insome fashion, a “close help” icon 1521 and a close help window icon1518. After window 1516 is opened, to close the window, icon 1518 can beselected. When icon 1516 is selected, while window 1516 closes, in atleast some embodiments other help information that may have beenaccessed may remain in some presented format for viewing. In at leastsome cases, to close all help information and to present informationthat was presented prior to opening the help window, the close help icon1521 can be selected.

In FIG. 62, help topics are shown in a list format 1514 and topics areselectable via a mouse or other controlled pointing icon 1520. When icon1520 is positioned over a topic, the topic is highlighted to indicatealignment with the topic. Once a topic is selected, the topic ishighlighted in a different fashion to indicate that selection hasoccurred.

After a topic is selected from list 1514, in at least some embodiments,a system processor accesses a help database, retrieves help informationand presents the help information within workspace area 1510 or within awindow that appears over the screen shot 1509. Here and in othercontemplated embodiments, the presented help information may includesimple text, hyperlink or other linking text that, when selected, leadsto other related information, animation to show activities related toselected topics, etc.

In at least some cases, it is contemplated that a system user may wantto simultaneously use a system including a master unit and slave unitswhile viewing or having access to help information. For instance, wherea system user is not sure how to move panel icons into and out of theslave representation area 1302 and the resulting effect of movement onthe images presented via the slave presentation spaces (e.g., 1522,1524, etc.), it may be advantageous for the user to have access to helpinformation (e.g., text, an animation, etc.) that explains how panelicons can be moved in and out of area 1302 and the resulting effect onslave images while simultaneously being able to perform the panel icondragging and releasing activity. To facilitate simultaneous access tohelp information and interactive activity, in at least some embodimentswhen help information is presented in the master workspace area 1510, asystem user can flip the help information from the master area 1510 toone of the slave presentation spaces 1522, 1524, etc., and can then usethe master unit to perform some activity while help information ispresented in the slave space.

Where help information is presented in a window that lies over aworkspace area 1510 instead of directly within a workspace area, thewindow may be flipped to a slave presentation space in at least someembodiments by selecting the window (i.e., selecting the top bar of thewindow), dragging the window to a location over one of the panel iconswithin the slave representation space 1302 and releasing the panel icon.Once the panel icon is released, the help window is moved to the slavepresentation space associated with the panel icon and will appear as awindow over the image that currently exists within the slavepresentation space.

A flipped help window may be associated with the slave presentationspace or the image over which the help window was flipped. Where thehelp window is associated with the slave presentation space to which thewindow was flipped, as other images are moved about the slave spaces,the help window would not simultaneously be moved. Where the help windowis associated with an image over which the window is initially flipped,as the image is moved, the help window would simultaneously move.

The advantage of presenting help information in a window format is that,at least where the help window does not take up an entire slavepresentation space, at least a portion of the any underlying image isstill visible and hence, when an activity affects the underlying image,at least a portion of the affect can be observed to confirm the effect.

In at least some embodiments where help information is presenteddirectly within workspace area 1510 (as opposed to in an overlyingwindow), when the help information is flipped to a slave presentationspace, the help information may either be treated like any other slaveimage and supplant an existing image or may be treated in an overlayingfashion so that any initial image in the space to which the informationis flipped remains associated with the space.

Where the flipped information is treated like any other flipped image,any image presented within a slave presentation space prior to flippingis removed from the space and repositioned according to the imagemanagement rules described above. For instance, where an image isinitially presented in slave presentation space 1522 when a helpinformation image is dragged to and released to a location over thefirst panel icon in slave representation space 1302 that is associatedwith slave presentation space 1522 (see again FIG. 62), the initialimage in space 1522 is moved to space 1524, any initial image is space1524 is moved to space 1526 and so on.

Where the flipped image is treated as an overlay, any image presentedwithin a slave presentation space prior to flipping is removed from thespace so that the help information can be presented within the space butthe removed image is not repositioned in another of the slavepresentation spaces and the flipping action does not cause other imagespresented in the slave presentation spaces to be moved within thespaces. For instance, where an image is initially presented in slavepresentation space 1522 when a help information image is dragged to andreleased to a location over the first panel icon in slave representationspace 1302 that is associated with slave presentation space 1522 (seeagain FIG. 62), the initial image in space 1522 is removed from space1522 so that the help information can be presented.

In some embodiments, referring again to FIG. 62, when a help topic isselected from a help window 1516, the topic information may initially bepresented in a slave presentation space instead of being presented inthe master unit workspace area 1510. Where help information for aspecific topic requires more space than the space afforded by a singlepresentation space, the help information may be presented via multipleslave presentation spaces.

In some embodiments, when a help topic is selected and help informationis initially presented within the master unit workspace area 1510, asadditional topics are selected, information related to previous helptopics may be displayed via the slave presentation spaces. For instance,where a user initially selects a first help topic to obtain relatedinformation and a help window is opened over workspace area 1510 thatincludes additional selectable help sub-topics in addition toinformation related to the first topic, when a second help topic isselected from the additional sub-topics, information related to thefirst topic may automatically be flipped in a window or other format tothe first slave presentation space 1522 and either another window may beopened within workspace area 1510 to present information related to thesecond topic or the second help topic information may be presented inthe initial window. Similarly, when a third help topic is selected fromthe additional sub-topics, information related to the second topic mayautomatically be flipped in another window or other format to the secondslave presentation space 1524 and either another window may be openedwithin workspace area 1510 to present information related to the thirdtopic or the third help topic information may be presented in theinitial window.

In all cases where help information is presented in slave presentationspaces and/or in windows that are provided over images in slavepresentation spaces, the help information can be removed from thepresented images by simply turning off the help function. In at leastsome embodiments the help function can be turned off by simply selectinghelp icon 1512 in FIG. 62 and then selecting the close help icon 1521.

In some embodiments when the help function is turned off, the state ofthe system returns to the state that existed just prior to the helpfunction being turned on. Here, for instance, where six images werepresented via slave presentation spaces 1522 through 1532 and one imagewas displayed via workspace area 1510 prior to initiating the helpfunction, when the help function is turned off, all of the sevenoriginally presented images are again presented.

In other embodiments when the help function is turned off, any changesthat occurred to the presented information while the help function wasturned on remain. For instance, if three help images are presentedduring help activities via slave presentation spaces 1522, 1524 and 1526where the help information images were treated like normal flippedimages (i.e., caused movement of other images among presentationspaces), when the help function is turned off the three spaces 1522,1524 and 1526 are left blank.

In at least some embodiments it is contemplated that a help function maybe supported by a system wherein a related activity is simulated via thesystem for a user. For instance, again, where a user seeks helpinformation related to movement of panel icons into and out of a slaverepresentation area 1302 (see again FIG. 47), to show the activity andthe result, a system processor may actually show a dragging andreleasing activity via the master unit and the effect of the activityvia the slave presentation spaces (i.e., the slave images may be movedor altered accordingly). Thus, for example, the processor may cause themaster unit to show a pointing icon move to a panel icon in the toolarea 1300 to select one of the panel icons, dragging of the panel iconto another location, releasing of the icon and replacement of the iconwhile causing the slave presentation unit to alter the displayed slaveimages accordingly.

In at least some embodiments where help information is presented inwindows, it is contemplated that the windows may be presented as smallsticky notes where, as new help topics are opened, the new notes arepresented via either the master unit or within the slave presentationspaces. Here, the note appearance is an indication to a system user thatthe information on presented via the notes is not permanent and that theimages under the presented information still exist and will be thereafter the help function is turned off. In at least some cases the stickynotes may only be used for help navigation. For instance, when a helpfunction is initially commenced, general help topics may be presentedvia a first sticky note. When a sub-topic from the first note isselected, a second note may be presented either via the master or viathe slave spaces that includes more specific topics and so on.

According to another inventive aspect, a master unit or other interfacedevice that is used with a master presentation unit may be useable toadjust viewing aspects such as, for instance, brightness, contrast,etc., of the slave presentation units so that each presentation unitprojects images that have similar appearances. In this regard, in manycases where a presentation system includes two or more projectors, theprojectors will project images that have different brightness levels,color contrasts, etc., because different types of projectors areemployed or, where identical projectors are employed, because the usagetime of the projectors is substantially different (i.e., as projectorsare used, the quality of the projected images is denigrated, projectorlight brightness is reduced, etc.).

When multiple projectors or display screens that have different imagegenerating sources are used to present information, it is often the casethat the different projectors or screens and sources generate imagesthat have disparate qualities. For instance, where first and secondinstances of a single image are presented via first and second separateprojectors in first and second presentation spaces, often because ofhardware differences, despite the fact that the images are identical,the images may have very different appearances. While differentappearances are acceptable when the first and second presentation spacesare used in different locations (i.e., separate conference rooms), whenthe two spaces are adjacent, the differences in appearance arenoticeable and, in many cases, can be distracting.

One image characteristic that is particularly distracting when two ormore images are presented in an adjacent juxtaposition is imagebrightness. With projectors, image brightness varies appreciably frommanufacturer to manufacturer and even among projectors of the same typewhere one projected is older than the other (i.e., projector brightnessoften decreases over time and with projector use).

Referring to FIG. 63, an exemplary system is illustrated whereinprojector brightness is adjustable via a master display unit 1700. InFIG. 63, three projectors 1708, 1706 and 1704 are linked to master unit1700 via a system processor/server 1702 where the first projector 1708projects two images into presentation spaces 1738 and 1740, the secondprojector 1706 projects two images into spaces 1742 and 1744 and thethird projector projects two images into spaces 1746 and 1748. Asillustrated, the images in spaces 1738 and 1740 are shown as unfilled toindicate relatively bright images, the images in spaced 1742 and 1744are shown as left to right upward slanting cross hatched to indicateimages that are darker than the images in spaces 1738 and 1740 and theimages in spaces 1746 and 1748 are shown as double cross hatched toindicate images that are darker than the images in spaces 1742 and 1744where image brightness is a function of the specific projectors thatgenerate the images.

In FIG. 63, it is contemplated that processor 1702 is capable ofproviding control signals to each of projectors 1708, 1706 and 1704 toadjust perceived projector brightness. To this end, in the case of manyprojectors, projector bulb intensity is not adjustable and thereforebrightness cannot be adjusted by altering bulb intensity. In thesecases, it has been recognized that other projector settings can beadjusted to modify projected image characteristics in ways such that theperceived brightness of the projected images is modified. For instance,in some cases image colors can be altered to adjust perceivedbrightness.

Referring still to FIG. 63, in at least some inventive embodiments aprojector adjust icon 1722 (also referred to herein as a “projectoricon” 1722) may be provided in a tool area 1300 of a master unit screenshot where a workspace area 1725 resides below the tool area 1300. Whenicon 1722 is selected, a projector control window 1728 is opened in amaster unit workspace area 1725 that includes a close icon 1724 that canbe used to close window 1728. In addition to icon 1724, window 1728 alsoincludes a separate projector icon (three projector icons collectivelyidentified by numeral 1726) for each of the projectors that are linkedto server 1702 and associated sliding bar adjustment tools 1730, 1732and 1734, one for each of the projector icons 1726. Consistent with theabove discussion regarding brightness, a system user can select and draga sliding bar on any of the adjustment tools 1730, 1732, 1734 to adjustperceived brightness of associated projected images up or down. Otherprojector adjustments (e.g., specific adjustments to the three colorsused to generate images—red, green and blue, etc.) are contemplated andcould be performed via the master unit 1700. Where adjustments forspecific blue, green and red colors are provided, each of the colors maybe separately adjustable where, as adjustments are made, the projectorsare controlled so that the projectors provide feedback to the adjustinguser.

In at least some embodiments it is contemplated that color correctionmay be used to correct images generated by any single one of theprojectors. To this end, in at least some embodiments an interface maybe provided that enables a user to select different portions of aprojected image and adjust brightness of the separate portions of theimage to compensate for brightness irregularities at the edge or in themiddle of the projected image. Here, again, in at least some cases colorcorrection may include separate adjustment of each of the threeprojector colors red, green and blue.

Referring yet again to FIG. 63, while a system is described abovewherein a master presentation unit is used to adjust perceived projectorbrightness, in at least some embodiments it is contemplated that otherinterface devices such as a laptop 1712 linked to processor 1702 may beused to adjust brightness. Here, instead of providing the projectorcontrol window 1728 via the master unit, the control window 1728 may beprovided via the laptop display or some other linked interface deviceand the window tools may operate in a similar fashion.

In at least some embodiments it is contemplated that a conferencingsystem including a master unit and associated slave presentation unitsmay be associated with a specific conference room or may be able to beassociated with a specific conference room where the conference roomincludes other environmental apparatus that can be controlled via amaster unit in a fashion similar to the way in which the projectorcharacteristics are controlled.

Referring to FIG. 64, an exemplary system is illustrated whereinprojectors and other environmental apparatus are controllable via amaster display unit 1750. In FIG. 64, as in FIG. 63, three projectors1708, 1706 and 1704 are linked to master unit 1700 via a systemprocessor/server 1702 where the first projector 1708 projects two imagesinto presentation spaces 1738 and 1740, the second projector 1706projects two images into spaces 1742 and 1744 and the third projector iscapable of projecting two images into spaces 1746 and 1748. The otherapparatus that are controllable via unit 1750 include but are notlimited to conferencing cameras and related display hardware 1780, audioequipment 1782, window shades 1784, lighting 1786, etc.

In FIG. 63, each of the environmental apparatus as well as theprojectors 1708, 1706 and 1704 are linked to system processor/server1702 which is in turn linked to master unit 1750. The illustrated masterunit screen shot includes a tool area 1300 and a workspace area 1766there below. Within the tool area 1300, an additional environment icon(i.e., a plant icon) 1754 is provided that is selectable to access roomapparatus controls. To this end, when environment icon 1754 is selected,a room control window 1752 is opened within workspace area 1766.

Exemplary room control window 1752 includes a includes a window closeicon 1756 for closing the window as well as apparatus control toolsincluding a close/open icon 1758 for room window shades 1784, an on/officon 1760 for conference cameras 1780, an audio on/off icon forcontrolling audio equipment 1782, projector on/off icons 1764, 1766 and1768, for controlling the state of each of projectors 1708, 1706 and1704, respectively, and a sliding light control bar for controllingintensity of room lights 1786. Each of icons 1758, 1760, 1762, 1764,1766, 1768 and 1770 are toggle type icon that change state (e.g., on tooff and vice versa) when selected. As selections are made via window1752, the selections are carried out by processor 1702. After selectionshave been made, a user can select icon 1756 to close the room controlwindow 1752.

In the illustrated example in FIG. 64, while projectors 1708 and 1706are turned on (see icons 1764 and 1766, icon 1768 indicates thatprojector 1704 is turned off. Consistent with the control icon states,each of projectors 1708 and 1706 are shown projecting images whileprojector 1704 is not projecting an image. Reflecting the states of theprojectors, note that the slave representation area 1302 in tool area1300 only encloses four images corresponding to the four imagesprojected by projectors 1708 and i1706 instead of enclosing six imagesas in previously described cases.

It has been recognized that environmental conditions for using aconferencing system like the ones described above will often be similarduring different conferencing sessions. To facilitate easy system andconference room use, in some embodiments the master unit 1750 may beprogrammed to present the environment/room control window 1752 the firsttime master unit 1750 is activated to obtain user preferences asdescribed above. Thereafter, the specified preferences may be stored forfuture use so that, subsequently, when the master unit is activated, theenvironment apparatus are controlled to automatically assume statesconsistent with the specified preferences. In at least some embodiments,as illustrated in FIG. 63, to facilitate storage of preferences forfuture use, room control window 1752 will include an “archive” icon orsome other tool akin thereto for indicating that specified preferencesshould be stored. After preferences have been stored, the next time themaster unit is activated, the apparatus are automatically controlled toassume the preferenced states.

At any time after a master unit is activated, a unit user can access theroom control window by selecting environment icon 1754 to change currentapparatus states. After one or more apparatus states have been altered,the states can either be archived as preferences by selecting archiveicon 1774 or they can be used for the current session only by selectingthe close icon 1756, after which the specified changed apparatus stateswill be maintained during the current session but will not be archivedfor future sessions (i.e., the previously specified preferences will bemaintained until new preferences are archived).

In at least some embodiments the room control window may be provided viaan Active-X plug in that enables control of an existing room controlsystem.

In the case of the multiple display units shown in FIGS. 58 and 59, inat least some embodiments the presentation spaces may be mechanically orelectronically rotatable so that the presentation spaces can assumeeither vertical or horizontal orientations. Thus, for instance, in FIG.58 where slave displays 1466 and 1468 are shown vertically oriented, insome embodiments displays 1466 and 1468 may be mounted mechanically tofacilitate rotation into horizontal orientations like the orientationsof the slave displays 1486 and 1488 in FIG. 59. In other cases rotationmay be electronic. Similarly, in at least some embodiments the locationof the master unit and the slave presentation spaces may be modifiableeither mechanically or electronically so that the master unit may beplaced on either the right or the left hand side of the unit.

Referring again to FIG. 55, in some embodiments server 1432 may beprogrammed to monitor system use and remote connection to the masterunit 1422 and to periodically transmit usage information via a networkto another server that tracks system and remote connection for billingpurposes.

According to another aspect of at least some exemplary systems, wheremultiple conference attendees are located at different locations andwhere a system can be controlled by more than one attendee, it iscontemplated that when a specific attendee performs some activity thatalters a displayed image or that interacts with the master presentationunit, an icon corresponding to the attendee may be highlighted toindicate who has control of the system and who is making the change. Tothis end, referring to FIG. 65 an exemplary master display screen shot1800 akin to the screen shot described above with respect to FIG. 38 isshown. In FIG. 65 icons 1805 associated with each remote conferenceattendee are provided in tool area 1002 including one icon 1806associated with a specific remote user. When the user associated withicon 1806 uses a remote computer to control a pen type cursor 1802 todraw an oval around the words “SC DEALER DEVELOPMENT” as indicated at1804, in at least some cases, as the oval is being drawn, the icon 1806may be visually distinguished (e.g., turned yellow, blinked on and off,etc.). Here, when the user stops drawing oval 1804, if the user ceasesmaking some other modification in workspace 1004, the icon 1806 may nolonger be visually distinguished.

In another case, when a user uses the remote device associated with icon1806 to begin to draw oval 1804, icon 1806 may be visually distinguishedand may remain visually distinguished until another user performs someimage altering activity via another interface device (e.g., a masterunit or another remote computer). For instance, if the remote associatedwith icon 1806 is used to draw oval 1804 and no other remote device isused to alter the master unit image or to interact with the master toperform some other function, in this case, icon 1806 remains visuallydistinguished for the entire ten minute period. Here, the distinguishedicon indicates the last user or remote device used to alter the mastspace image or to interact with the master unit.

In still other cases where a specific user is associated with eachremote device, when a remote user is altering an image displayed inmaster space 1004, a user identifier 1807 may be provided in tool space1002 that indicates the current user by providing a user ID (e.g. a username like “John Smith” as illustrated, a user's initials, etc.) or asimilar user identifier box may follow a pen or cursor icon about on adisplay to indicate who is controlling the cursor at any time.

In still some other cases it is contemplated that a feature may beturned on whereby, when a stroke or other image object on an image isselected (e.g., via hovering an icon over the stroke/object or viaclicking on the stroke/object), the identity of the person that addedthe stroke or object to the image may be indicated. Here, the identitymay be indicated in any of several ways including highlighting theremote icon (e.g., one of icons 1805 in FIG. 65) that is associated withthe remote computer that was used to make the stroke or add the object,by providing a user identifier akin to field 1807 in FIG. 66), byproviding a field or box akin to field 1807 adjacent a pointing iconused to select the stroke or object, by providing a field adjacent thestroke or object (see 1869 in FIG. 66), etc. Other ways to associate astroke or object with an author/editor are contemplated.

In some cases a feature may be provided such that when the feature isturned on the authors of all of the information on an image may beprovided. For instance, referring to FIG. 66, when this feature isturned on fields 1869, 1871, 1873 and 1875 may be provided adjacent eachobject that forms an image where the editors that added the objects areidentified in the fields. Here, in at least some cases, in addition toproviding the editor fields, the objects may be color coded by editor sothat all of the objects added by one editor are presented in a firstcolor, all of the objects added by a second editor are presented in asecond color and so on.

In yet one other case it is contemplated that as a specific user altersa master workspace image in space 1004, all of the alterations made bythe specific user that occurred after some other user most recently madea change to the image would be highlighted or otherwise visuallydistinguished to indicate changes that are related to each other by theidentity of the remote device used to make the changes. For instance, inFIG. 65, assume that after some other user alters the displayed image,the user associated with icon 1806 creates oval 1804 and places the textthat appears below oval 1804 in the master workspace 1004. Here, whileother text may appear in black or in the colors selected by users whenthe text was added to the image, oval 1804 and text added by the userassociated with icon 1804 may appear highlighted in yellow and otheradded text and graphics may appear highlighted in yellow until someother attendee uses another device to make a change to the displayedimage. When another remote device is used to make a change to thedisplayed image, the previously yellow highlighted changes made by theuser using the remote associated with icon 1806 would be un-highlightedand the new changes by the other attendee would now be shown in somevisually distinguishing fashion. Here, in addition to showing a stringof changes by a most recent image editor in a visually distinguishedfashion, the remote used to edit may also be indicated in one of theways described above (e.g., highlighting an associated one of icons1805, providing an identifying field 1807, etc.).

In some cases is it contemplated that a master unit may have a modewherein changes that are made using specific remote devices and themaster unit may be visually distinguished from each other. For instance,in some cases each remote device that links to a conference may beassigned a specific color and any image changes made using the remotedevice may show up in an image in the color associated with the device.To this end, referring to FIG. 66, a screen shot 1820 of a master unitis shown that is similar to the screen shot shown in FIG. 65 whichincludes a tool space 1002 and a workspace 1004 in which an image isprovided. Here, each of remote icons 1826, 1830, 1832 and 1834 ishighlighted differently. For instance, while icon 1826 may have a bluehue to it, icon 1830 may have a red hue, icon 1832 may have a green hueand so on. When the user associated with remote icon 1826 makes a changeto the image illustrated in workspace 1004, the change would be shown inthe color associated with the specific remote icon, in this case, inblue. Similarly, changes caused using the device associated with icon1830 would be shown in red. In at least some cases it is contemplatedthat this color coding feature could be turned on and off. For instance,when the color coding feature is off, all image objects would be shownin whatever colors were chosen by the editors that made the changes.Then, when the color coding feature is on, all of the image objectswould be shown in the colors associated with the specific remote deviceicons.

In some embodiments it is contemplated that all changes made by aspecific conference attendee on all displayed and thumbnail images orjust on the master unit image could be highlighted or otherwise visuallydistinguished from other image features. Here, for instance, a drop downmenu (not illustrated) may be associated with each of the remote usericons 1805 that includes options to “Distinguish Master Image Changes”and “Distinguish All Image Changes”. Here, where the “Distinguish MasterImage Changes” option is selected for a specific remote device icon, thechanges made to the master image using the associated remote devicewould be highlighted or otherwise visually distinguished. Similarly,where the “Distinguish All Image Changes” option is selected for aspecific remote device icon, the changes made to all of the displayedand thumbnail image using the associated remote device would behighlighted or otherwise visually distinguished.

According to another aspect, in at least some embodiments it iscontemplated that any device used to electronically link to a systemconference may be used to load documents up to the conference through aprint type process. To this end, referring to FIG. 67, a tool space 1850akin to the space described with respect to FIG. 44 is shown whichincludes a slave representation area 1852 and a plurality of remote usericons including one remote user icon 1854. As shown in FIG. 67,initially no images are shown in slave representation area 1852. If theattendee associated with remote icon 1854 wants to load an eight pagedocument from some other application such as MS Word™, the attendee canselect a print command and can then select the conferencing systemincluding the master unit or easel as the target to which the imageshould be printed. After the selections above, a version of the eightpage document can be generated within the remote computer and presentedon the remote computer via windows associated with the conferencingsystem. In addition, a version of the eight page document can betransmitted to the master unit or easel and used to populate the sixslave representation fields 1860, 1862, 1864, 1866, 1868 and 1870 inspace 1852 as well as two session image fields 1874 and 1876 as seen inFIG. 68. The images would also be presented via the master unitworkspace 1004 as well as via the slave presentation spaces for viewing.Thereafter, any of the image changing and session image rearrangingprocesses described above may be performed on the images displayed.

In the above example, if another attendee associated with icon 1908subsequently wants to upload two additional images and the second imagein field 1862 is currently displayed on the master unit as indicated bythe highlighting in FIG. 68, when the two page document is printed tothe conferencing system, versions of the two new images are generatedthat cause the previous images to ripple from space 1862 onward to makeroom for the two new images. The results of this rippling activity areshown in FIG. 69 where new images 9 and 10 occupy spaces 1862 and 1864,image 2 that was initially in space 1862 ripples to space 1866 andimages 7 and 8 are moved to additional session image spaces 1900 and1902. This printing activity enables any remote device to be used topublish documents to the conferencing system for sharing with otherremote devices in a simple fashion.

In yet some other embodiments it is contemplated that projector systemssimilar to the systems described above with respect to FIGS. 58 and 59may be designed into furniture that has a conventional appearance wherethe furniture does not include a slave display space (e.g., thefurniture includes no screen) but rather uses a flat substantiallyvertical surface provided by some other structure as a projectionsurface. To this end, an exemplary system 1940 is shown in FIGS. 70-72where two projector assemblies 1954 and 1956 are included in a credenzashelving assembly 1942. In this embodiment, credenza 1940 includes arectilinear wall structure 1942 that forms an internal cavity 50 forreceiving at least a subset of system components, a plurality of doors,two collectively identified by numeral 1944, internal wall and shelfstructure 1952 and a glass top member 1946. Projectors 1954 and 1956 arearranged on a top shelf just below the glass top.

Each projector 1954 and 1956 has a similar design and operates in asimilar fashion and therefore, in the interest of simplifying thisexplanation, only projector 1956 is described here in any detail.Referring to FIG. 72, projector 1956 includes a housing (not separatelylabeled) that includes a top wall window 1955, a projector unit 1970 anda mirror 1972. Projector unit 1970 and mirror 1972 are arranged in thehousing so that images projected by unit 1970 reflects off mirror 1972and upward through window 1955 and generally behind credenza 1940 (i.e.,to a side of the credenza opposite the side that doors 1944 face and tothe rear of a rear edge of the top member 1946 and generally verticallyupward there from into a space 1851). Here, because the top member 1946is glass, the images projected upward from projectors 1956 and 1956 passthrough the top member. When a rear surface of credenza 1940 oppositedoors 1944 is generally against a flat wall, projected images appear onthe wall surface. Here, it is contemplated that the projectors incredenza 1944 would only be used in at least some applications toprovide slave images and that a master presentation unit akin to thosedescribed above would be used along with the credenza assembly 1940 tofacilitate the methods described above. As shown in FIG. 72, in at leastsome cases it is contemplated that casters or wheels may be provided onthe bottom of the credenza 1942 so that the credenza and componentslocated therein could be moved from one location to other locations foruse. In at least some cases a printer 1943 and other system components(e.g., a master unit server or the like (not labeled) may be provided inspace 1950.

In at least some cases the glass top 1946 may comprise a polymerdispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) window or member that can be controlledto be either opaque or transparent. PDLCs operate on the principle ofelectrically controlled light scattering. They consist of liquid crystaldroplets surrounded by a polymer mixture sandwiched between two piecesof conducting glass. When no electricity is applied the liquid crystaldroplets are randomly oriented, creating an opaque state. Whenelectricity is applied the liquid crystals align parallel to theelectric field and light passes through the member creating atransparent state. Here, then, when the projectors are not used togenerate images, the glass top 1946 may be deactivated so that the topmember is opaque and the projectors and other components inside thespace 1950 are hidden. When the projectors are to be used electricitycan be applied to the glass thereby causing the glass to becometransparent so that projected images can pass there through. In thisregard, a power transformer and a control switch are shown as 1841 inFIG. 72. In at least some cases the opacity controlling switch would belinked in some fashion to the master unit for control when slave imagesare required. While the opacity controlled glass is described herein asa PDLC type glass, it should be appreciated that any type ofelectronically controlled glass assembly that has variable opacity maybe employed. Hereinafter, glass that has controllable opacity willgenerally be referred to as opacity controllable glass unless indicatedotherwise. In addition, other furniture types are contemplated such asdesks, tables, shelved, etc., that include controllable opacity glassfor hiding and revealing projectors.

According to still one other aspect, it is contemplated that anautomatic scaling feature may be included as part of the master unitinterface system wherein, as activities are performed that increase thesize of an image beyond a size that will fit in an image space, theimage size is automatically reduced to allow for additional applicationof information at the peripheral edges of the image.

To this end, referring to FIG. 73, an exemplary master unit screen shot2000 is shown that includes a workspace 1004 in which a master unitimage is displayed. Here, an invisible border or frame space along theedge of the workspace 1004 is shown by a dashed line 2002. For instance,the frame space may include the two inch space along each of the foursides of a displayed image. When the displayed image is altered suchthat altering activity causes information to be added to the framespace, the image may be shrunk so that the alterations can be shown. Forexample, in FIG. 73, a pen icon 2004 is shown where a curve 2006 that ismade on the master image extents into frame space indicated by line 2002at a lower edge of the displayed image. Referring to FIG. 74, when thecurve enters the frame space, the displayed image including the curve2006 a being added is shrunk and moved and the pen icon 2004 is alsomoved along with the curve 2006 a.

In some cases, as shown in FIG. 74, the shrunken image is moved to thecenter of the workspace 1004 so that information can be added around allfour sides of the shrunken image. In other cases, although notillustrated, the shrunken image may be moved to some other locationwithin workspace 1004 such as the upper left hand corner or the topcenter of the space. In some cases the shrunken image may be moved tothe location within workspace 1004 that is most distant from thelocation at which an image altering activity entered the frame space2002. For instance, referring again to FIG. 73 where curve 2006 enteredspace at the lower edge of workspace 1004, here, the shrunken imagewould be moved to be adjacent the top center edge of workspace 1004.Similarly, if a curve were made that entered space 2002 along the righthand edge of workspace 1004, the shrunken image may be moved to berelocated along the left center edge of workspace 1004.

In at least some cases a dynamic resizing may occur. For instance, wherean image is initial shrunk by 30% when space 2002 is required by imagealtering activity, if the altering activity only slightly enters thespace 2002 and thereafter changes to the displayed image occur withinthe bounds of the smaller image space, as subsequent image changes arebeing made, the image may be rescaled up to a larger image size (e.g.,only 10% smaller than the original image size instead of 30% smaller) sothat the largest image possible to accommodate an entire image can beprovided automatically. In this case, the resealing of the image may beperformed in between changes to the image so that the resealing does notadversely affect a system user's interaction with the image. Thus, forinstance, after an initial downsizing by 30% when an image alteringactivity extends out of the original image space by a small amount, ifsubsequent changes to the image over the next fifteen seconds are withina the confines of the original image plus the small extension outsidethe original confines, when a break in image modifying activity occurs,the image may be resized up by 20% so that the largest possible image isprovided automatically.

Moreover, in at least some cases, reduction of image size may not occurimmediately when activity enters the boundary space but may occur when acurrent activity ceases so that the shrinking activity does not resultin discontinuous activity. For instance, referring again to FIG. 73, ifa curve passes through boundary 2002 and into the frame space, theresizing may only occur after a stylus used to form the curve is liftedup. Here, in at least some cases, the desired curve may be completedwithin the frame space or the curve may continue back into the spacewithin the frame boundary 2002 where the curve is completed. Once thestylus is lifted indicating the end to a current activity, the resizingmay occur.

When a pen icon is used to alter an image and altering activity extendsinto the frame space 2002, immediate image repositioning may cause theimmediate location of the pen icon to be misaligned with the activitythat was being performed. For instance, referring again to FIG. 745,when the shrunken image 2008 is repositioned, while a user may bepointing a pen icon controlling stylus at location 2009, the curve 2006a would be moved up to the illustrated location so that amis-registration occurs. Here, to continue the curve, the user has torealign the icon controlling stylus with the tip of icon 2004. In atleast some cases it is contemplated that realignment with the tip oficon 2004 and hence with the end of curve 2006 a may not be easy toperform given stylus position sensing capabilities of some master units.In at least some embodiments a realignment feature is contemplatedwherein the master unit helps realign by slightly shifting a shrunkenimage when a realigning activity is attempted.

To this end, referring to FIG. 75, a shrunken image 2012 is illustratedthat is consistent with the discussion above regarding FIGS. 73 and 74.Here, after the shrunken image is repositioned (e.g., in the center ofthe workspace 1004—see again FIG. 74), it is assumed that a system userrepositions a pen icon controlling stylus so that icon 2004 is locatedas shown with tip end 2016 near but separated (e.g., 2 inches) from thelocation of end 2014 of shrunken curve 2006 a. When the master unitsenses the new location of icon 2004 and that the tip 2016 is locatednear end 2014, the unit may be programmed to assume that the user isattempting to realign the pen tip 2014 with the end 2014 of curve 2006a. To help realign, as shown by doffed lines, two of which arecollectively identified by numeral 2018, the shrunken image 2012 may beshifted in its entirety so that curve end 2014 is located at thelocation of tip 2016 as illustrated in FIG. 2016 after which the usercan proceed to complete curve 2006 a as desired.

According to one other aspect, in at least some cases it is contemplatedthat a sticky notes feature may be included wherein conference attendeescan add small proverbial “sticky notes” to session images that stay withimages unless deleted or moved to other images. To this end, referringto FIG. 65, one additional icon 1809 in tool area 1002 is labeled “Note”which can be selected to add a note to an image currently displayed inthe master unit workspace 1004. When icon 1809 is selected, a note imageis opened up 1803 on top of the currently displayed image in workspace1004. The note 1803 can be moved around in workspace 1004 by selectingthe note and dragging the note around the displayed image. Note 1803 canbe closed by simply selecting a delete button 1813 that is associatedwith the note. Once note 1803 is opened and if the note is not deletedor moved to another image, the note remains associated with the image.Note 1803 can be moved to another image by selecting the note with apointer icon and dragging the note like an object to a thumbnail of theother image located in tool area 1002.

In at least some cases it is contemplated that a tool may be providedwhereby all notes associated with session images can be viewed on asummary page and that images associated with the notes could then beaccessed via the master unit by selecting associated notes. To this end,referring still to FIG. 65, a “Notes Summary” icon 1811 is provided intool area 1002 that, when selected, may cause a notes summary screenshot 2100 to be illustrated as in FIG. 77. In FIG. 77, a plurality ofnotes that are associated with a current session image set are shown inworkspace 1004 including notes 1803, 1817, 1819, etc. When a note isselected (e.g., a double tap via a pointing stylus device), in at leastsome embodiments an image associated with the selected note is providedin space 1002. As shown in FIG. 77, when a notes screen shot is providedin space 1004, a “Close Notes Summary” icon 1821 is provided in toolarea 1002 that can be selected to close the notes screen shot andreplace a previously displayed image in workspace 1004. In at least someembodiments, although not illustrated, it is contemplated that date,time and author information associated with notes will be stored in adatabase so that notes corresponding to specific dates and times and/orspecific authors can be accessed in a notes summary screen shot akin toimage 2100 in FIG. 77. To this end, for instance, in one case a pulldown menu may be associated with each of the remote device icons 1805 intool area 1002 which includes a notes option so that author specificnotes can be accessed. In another case a pull down menu may beassociated with “Notes Summary” icon 1811 that can be selected so that arange of dates/times can be specified over which notes should beaccessed in a summary format.

According to one other aspect, in at least some cases it is contemplatedthat pre-canned session templates may be stored in a system databasethat can be accessed at the beginning of a session to place somestructure on session images. For instance, in at least some cases asession template may include a single page that includes a company logo.Here, where a template is a single page, when the template is used, thetemplate may be provided each time a new image is generated so that allof the images in a session set include the logo or whatever else isincluded on the template. Thereafter the images may be altered in any ofthe ways described above. In other cases a template may include aplurality of pages (e.g., initial images) that are provided as the firstor last pages in a session image set when a session is initiated. Forinstance, a company may want to enforce system rules wherein the firstthree pages of each session image set include standard sessioninformation such as a session title, a list of participants, sessiontime and date information, participant time and date information, topicsdiscussed, etc. Here, whenever a new session is started, an instance ofa new session template may be opened that includes the three first pagesand that either includes information gleaned by the master unit or thatrequires information to be added to the template by a user. Additionalimages generated during a session would initially be blank in thismultiple page template example. In some cases it is contemplated that alarge number of single and multi-page templates may be supported by thesystem so that a user can select any of the different template types.Other template types are contemplated. In at least some cases it may bethat the initial or final template image order cannot be altered so thatthe location of the session information within a set of session imagescannot be modified.

While the system described above is particularly useful when used tolink several persons together during a conferencing session, in at leastsome cases session images may be accessed, viewed and/or edited offlineand then restored for subsequent on line access. To this end, in atleast some cases it is contemplated that a remote device user may logonto the server associated with a master unit, download a sessionincluding a plurality of images and then disconnect from the master unitserver. Thereafter, the remote device user may be able to edit thesession images in any of the ways described above using the remotedevice. After editing, the remote user can then re-access the masterunit server and upload the edited session images for subsequent accessduring a conferencing session or for access by another remote deviceuser for independent review and editing.

According to yet another aspect, some systems may include customizablehelp screens that allow an information technology (IT) department toprovide customized help information such as a phone number or an e-maillink for contacting the IT department when help is needed. For instance,whenever the master unit is first activated to start a new session, ahelp splash screen may be provided via the master workspace thatincludes the IT department contact information. As another example, inaddition to providing topical information to a system user whenselected, a help button 1829 (see FIG. 65) may be selectable to access acustomized IT department contact screen shot (not illustrated).

According to still another aspect, some systems may include a systemnews button 1831 (see FIG. 65) that is selectable to access downloadablesystem content (e.g., templates, new software tools for the master unit,etc.) and to provide news about new system features and ways to use thesystem most efficiently. Here, in at least some cases, it iscontemplated that when button 1831 is selected, a list of news topicsand perhaps a list of downloadable content would be provided via themaster unit that could be selected in any fashion known in the art.

In at lest some applications it is contemplated that the systemdescribed above may support a Lightweight Directory Access Protocol(LDAP) (e.g., may be made active directory (AD) aware) so that a systemadministrator can easily manage who has access to the systemapplications supported by an entity (e.g., by a company). As with otheractive directory aware applications, the administrator would be able togrant and take away authorization to access system sessions as well asto open and/or edit session images.

In addition to the systems and components described above, other systemsthat employ portable projectors and either a portable easel like theeasels described above (see again FIG. 24) or a portable/mobile podiumare contemplated. To this end, referring to FIG. 78, one exemplarypresentation kit system 2202 is shown in a conference space 2200 wherethe conference space 2200 includes a wall 2206 on which images may beprojected and a single entry 2204. In the illustrated example in FIG.78, eight separate presentation spaces identified by numerals 2208,2210, 2212, 2214, 2216, 2218, 2220 and 2222, respectively, areillustrated on wall 2206. Kit system 2202 includes a portable podiumassembly 2224 and first, second, third and fourth projector cartsidentified by numerals 2226, 2228, 2230 and 2232, respectively. Each ofthe carts 2226, 2228, 2230 and 2232 is similarly constructed andoperates in a similar fashion and therefore, in the interest ofsimplifying this explanation, only cart 2226 will be described here indetail.

Referring still to FIG. 78 and also to FIGS. 79, 80 and 81, exemplarycart 2226 includes a bottom member (not labeled), first and secondlateral wall members 2242 and 2250, a rear wall member 2234, first andsecond door members 2252 and 2254, a top member 2248, a shelf member2256, a handle 2238, four wheels collectively identified by a numeral2236, a projector 2260, and in the embodiment shown in FIG. 79, a powersupply 2264 and a wireless transceiver (i.e., a receiver/transmitter)2240.

Bottom member 2235 is a rigid rectilinear and substantially horizontalmember. Wheels 2236 are mounted to the undersurface of bottom member2235, one adjacent each of the four corners of member 2235 so thatmember 2235 and other cart components secured thereto can be moved aboutin conference space 2200 and out of space 2200 to other areas (e.g.,into other conference spaces, private offices, etc.) for use.

Lateral wall members 2242 and 2250 have similar configurations andfunction in a similar fashion and therefore only member 2242 (see FIG.81) will be described here in detail. Member 2242 is a rigid rectilinearmember that extends along one of the straight edges of bottom member2235 and upward therefrom. Member 2242 forms a plurality of vent slots2244 proximate a top end thereof. Slots 2244 are horizontal in theillustrated embodiment but may take other forms (e.g., vertical slots,circular openings, etc.) in other embodiments. Lateral member 2242 isrigidly mounted at a lower edge along the edge of member 2235 asillustrated. When members 2242 and 2250 are mounted, they aresubstantially vertical and are spaced apart along opposite edges ofmember 2235.

Referring still to FIGS. 79 through 81, top member 2248 has a shape anddimension similar to the shape and dimensions of bottom member 2235 andtraverses the distance between top edges of the first and second lateralwall members 2242 and 2250. Top member 2248 is transparent and, to thatend, may be formed of a Plexiglas type material or a tempered glassmaterial.

Rear wall member 2234 is a rigid rectilinear member that extends alongand from a rear edge of bottom member 2235 up to and along a rear edgeof top member 2248 and extends between rear edges of the first andsecond lateral members 2242 and 2250, respectively.

Each door member 2252 and 2254 is a rigid rectilinear member having aheight dimension similar to that of rear member 2234 and having a widthdimension (not labeled) that is about half the width of rear wall member2234. Member 2252 is hingedly mounted along a front edge of lateral wallmember 2242. Similarly, door member 2254 is hingedly mounted along afront edge of lateral wall member 2250.

The bottom wall member 2235, top wall member 2248, lateral wall members2242 and 2250, rear wall member 2234 and door members 2252 and 2254together form an internal chamber 2255. Shelf member 2256 is mountedwithin chamber 2255 and is substantially horizontal when mounted. Doors2252 and 2254 can be opened as shown in FIG. 79 or closed as door 2252is shown in FIG. 80. Handle 2238 extends upward and rearward from rearwall member 2234 and can be used to push cart assembly 2226 duringtransport. Wireless transceiver 2240 is mounted to and extends up fromtop member 2248.

Referring still to FIG. 79, projector 2260 is supported on a top surfaceof shelf member 2256 within chamber 2255 and just below transparent topmember 2248. Projector 2260 is positioned and oriented such that whenthe projector is turned on, images projected thereby are projectedthrough transparent top member 2248 and toward a presentation space orsurface formed by a structure such as wall 2206 that is adjacent thedoor members 2252 and 2254. In at least some embodiments each projectoris a short throw projector so that when the projector cart is placedadjacent a wall, images can be projected onto the wall for viewing. Inthe wireless embodiment described here, each of the projectors mayinclude a memory and a projector driver. The memory is capable ofstoring images to be generated for the projector and the driver isprovided to drive the projector to display images. Thus, after an imageis transmitted from the podium assembly or some other source to aprojector cart, the image can be stored at the cart and displayedindependent of the podium and until another image is received to bedisplayed. In other embodiments the projectors may not include separatememory and drivers and instead, images and video to be projected may bewirelessly transmitted (e.g., at 30 frames a second) from the systemserver 2286 (see FIG. 82) to each of the projectors.

Referring still to FIG. 79, a power supply 2264 (e.g., a battery pack)is provided below projector 2260 for providing power to projector 2260.Although not shown, where power supply 2264 is a battery pack, thesupply may include a cable for linking a power outlet for recharging thebattery.

Referring again to FIG. 78 and also to FIG. 82, exemplary podiumassembly 2224 includes a bottom wall member 2272, first and secondlateral wall members 2274 and 2276, a top work surface member 2229, arear wall member (not labeled), a shelf member 2280, a drawersubassembly 2290, wheels collectively identified by numeral 2225, apower supply 2282 (e.g., a rechargeable battery), a speaker 2227, aprinter 2284, a server 2286, a DVD player 2288, a wireless transceiver2231, a microphone 2270 and an input/output (I/O) tablet or device 2294.Bottom member 2272 is a rectilinear rigid and substantially horizontalmember that has wheels 2225 mounted to an undersurface thereof such thatmember 2272 and other podium assembly components can bemoved/transported within conference space 2200 and indeed out of space2200 and to other locations for use.

Lateral members 2274 and 2276 are rigid rectilinear members and extendupward from and along opposite edges of bottom member 2272. Each lateralwall member 2274 and 2276 forms vent slots 2292 for venting heatgenerated by electronics (e.g., the server 2286, the DVD player 2288,etc.).

Top work surface member 2229 is a rigid rectilinear member that ismounted at the top edges of lateral wall members 2274 and 2276. In theillustrated embodiment, at least a portion of member 2229 is slanted orangled from a rear edge down to a front edge so that materials placedthereon are supported at a comfortable angle for use by a podium user.Microphone 2270 is mounted to top member 2229 to pick up speech of aperson using podium assembly 2224.

Rear wall member 2227 is a rigid rectilinear and substantially verticalmember that extends from a rear edge of bottom wall member 2272 up toand adjacent a rear edge of top member 2229 and that traverses thedistance between the rear edges of the lateral wall members 2274 and2276. Thus, rear wall member 2272, lateral wall members 2274 and 2276and top wall member 2229 together form an internal podium chamber 2278.

Shelf member 2280 is mounted within chamber 2278 and forms asubstantially horizontal top surface when mounted. Drawer subassembly2290 is mounted just below top member 2229 within chamber 2278 forsliding movement between a closed position (as illustrated in FIG. 82)and an open position (not illustrated) wherein an internal space formedby the drawer subassembly 2290 can be accessed. When not in use, I/Otablet 2294 can be placed within drawer subassembly 2290 for storageand/or transport.

Referring still to FIGS. 78 and 82, the rear wall member forms anopening near a lower end to accommodate speaker 2227 which is mountedtherein. When a podium user speaks and the speech is picked up bymicrophone 2270, the speech is amplified via the speaker 2227 for anaudience to hear. In addition, when software is operated or a DVD orother movie-type presentation occurs that includes sound, the soundtherefrom can be amplified for an audience to hear via speaker 2227.

Referring to FIG. 82, server 2286 is supported on the top surface (e.g.,may be rack mounted) of shelf member 2280 and DVD player 2288 issupported on the top surface of server 2286 just below drawersubassembly 2290. Here, it is contemplated that server 2286 may includea processor capable of running software to facilitate any of thefunctions described with respect to other embodiments above.

Referring yet again to FIG. 82, power supply 2282 and printer 2284 arepositioned on a top surface of bottom member 2272. Supply 2282 mayinclude a battery for providing power to server 2286, DVD player 2288,printer 2284, I/O tablet, etc. where supply 2282 is a battery, thebattery may be rechargeable and may include a cable for connecting to apower outlet. Wireless transceiver 2231 is mounted to the top surface oftop member 2229 and is capable of transmitting information to andreceiving information from the wireless transceivers mounted on each ofthe carts (e.g., see 2240 in FIG. 81). I/O tablet 2294 may be hardwiredto server 2286 or, in the alternative, may be a wireless tablets capableof communicating with server 2286 via transceiver 2231.

Referring still to FIG. 82 and also to FIG. 83, server 2286 is hardwiredwithin the podium cabinet to wireless transceiver 2231, DVD player 2288,printer 2284, power source 2282, microphone 2270 and speaker 2227. Inaddition, server 2286 may be hardwired (or wirelessly connected) to ascanner 2295 (not illustrated in FIG. 82) housed in the podium cabinetand, in at least some cases, a portable database 2293 also housed in thecabinet. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 83 the server 2286 isalso hardwired to I/O tablet 2294 although this linkage may be wirelessas indicated above. Here, server 2286 transmits image data to theprojectors in the portable carts (e.g., 2226) wirelessly via thetransceiver 2231 and the cart mounted receivers (e.g., 2240 in FIG. 79).

Referring still to FIGS. 82 and 83, while the illustrated embodimentincludes the server, a printer, a DVD player and other componentsmounted in the podium cabinet, it should be appreciated that thosecomponents could be located elsewhere and could be linked eitherwirelessly via transceiver 2231 or a wireless access card in the I/Otablet 2294 or via a hardware cable. For example, server 2286 could belocated within an information technology room of a building thatincludes conference space 2200 or indeed in some other building.Similarly, while server 2286 may be podium mounted, the database 2293used thereby may be separate from the podium and linked to either viahardware cables or via transceiver 2231.

Referring once again to FIG. 78, to use the kit system 2201, a usermoves the four projector carts 2226, 2228, 2230 and 2232 into conferencespace 2200 and moves podium assembly 2224 into space 2200, and positionsthe projector carts in a line proximate wall 2206 as illustrated so thatwhen the projectors project, the projected images are directed at wall2206. Next, the user places podium assembly 2224 in an advantageousposition with respect to an audience within space 2200, associates theprojectors within the projection carts with the podium which is tooperate as a master presentation unit and then starts a collaborationsession using the kit system 2202.

In the illustrated embodiment, it is presumed that each one of theprojectors in carts 2226, 2228, 2230 and 2232 is configured to projecttwo separate flip chart sized images onto projection or presentationwall 2206. For example, the projector in cart 2226 projects the imagesinto presentation spaces 2208 and 2210, while the projector in cart 2228projects the images into spaces 2212 and 2214, and so on. Here, imagesare transferred to the projectors wirelessly via podium transceiver 2231and the projection cart transceivers (e.g., 2240).

In at least some embodiments, it is contemplated that the process ofassociating the master presentation unit (e.g., the podium 2241) and theprojector carts 2226, 2228, 2230 and 2232 may be similar to the processdescribed above with respect to FIG. 25 except that there is no need toidentify one of the units as a master unit. In the kit system 2202,podium assembly 2224 is always the master unit. Here, if six projectorcarts are located within space 2200 and the kit user only wants to usethe four projector carts illustrated in FIG. 78, the user may use thepodium (e.g., the I/O tablet 2294, server 2286 and transceiver 2231) topoll the projectors in the conference space 2200 and receive a list viathe I/O tablet 2294 (see again FIG. 82). Here, polling to generate theprojector inventory list would include transmitting a signal from server2286 to each projector in space 2200 requesting that the projectorrespond by transmitting a message that identifies the projector via aprojector specific ID code. When the ID codes are received, server 2286generates the inventory list, provides the list via I/O tablet 2294 andprovides on-screen tools to select projectors from the list to beassociated with the server 2286 during the session to be facilitated.

In the present example, the user would select the projectors associatedwith the four carts illustrated in FIG. 78 via the I/O tablet 2294 toassociate therewith. After selection of the projectors associated withthe four illustrated carts, the server 2286 configures the presentationsoftware to support the four projectors and to allow the I/O tablet userto manipulate images displayed by the four projectors. In this regard,where each projector is to project two separate images as shown in FIG.78, a display screen including a tool bar like the one shown in FIG. 50may be provided that shows eight thumbnail icons within representationarea 1302 that correspond to the eight projected images.

In some embodiments where a facility (e.g., conferencing space 2200)already includes an existing wireless infrastructure including accesspoints or the like, the system 2202 may use the existing wirelessinfrastructure to facilitate communication and data transfer among thesystem components.

As another example of how the podium and carts can be associated, theprojector cart and podium transceivers (e.g., 2231; 2240) may be able totransmit identification information to wireless access points within orproximate space 2200 that can be used in a triangulation process todetermine the locations of those resources and more specifically thatthose resources are located within space 2200. Once the resources inspace 2200 have been identified, the projector inventory list may beprovided to an I/O tablet user for selection and association.

Referring to FIGS. 50 and 78, to minimize confusion during apresentation session and to configure a system that operates in anintuitive fashion, the order of images projected by the kit projectorsassociated with a podium 2224 should match the order of thumbnail iconsin the representation area 1302 provided on the display of the I/Otablet 2294. Thus, as illustrated in FIGS. 50 and 78, where thethumbnail icons in area 1302 include, from left to right, thumbnails 1,12, 2, 11, 3, 5, 6 and 7, the displayed images should includecorresponding images 1 i, 12 i, 2 i, 11 i, 3 i, 5 i, 6 i and 7 i. Forthis reason, it is important that the projector and cart 2226 closest tothe podium 2224 in FIG. 78 be associated with the first and secondpresentation spaces 2208 and 2210 and the first and second thumbnails inarea 1302, that the second closest projector and cart 2228 be associatedwith the third and fourth presentation spaces 2212, 2214 and the thirdand fourth thumbnails in area 1302, that the third closest projector andcart 2230 be associated with the fifth and sixth presentation spaces2216 and 2218 and the fifth and sixth thumbnails in area 1302 and thatthe farthest projector and cart 2232 be associated with the seventh andfarthest or eighth presentation spaces and the seventh and eighththumbnails in area 1302.

To automatically associate specifically and relatively positionedprojectors with specific thumbnail icons within area 1302, whereprojectors and the podium 2224 transmit identification codes to accesspoints that are useable to determine projector and podium locations viatriangulation or the like, the relative locations of projectors and thepodium 2224 in space 2200 can be determined automatically. Once relativelocations within the space 2200 are known, server 2286 can automaticallyassociate projectors with thumbnail icons in the representation area1302. Here, if the order of projectors/carts were changed for somereason, the new locations could be automatically determined. Moreover,if one of the projectors malfunctioned or was needed at another locationduring a session, the projector could be removed from the operating listand the server 2286 could reassociate thumbnail icons and projectors asneeded. For example, assume the projector associated with third cart2230 malfunctions half way through a presentation and has to be removedfrom the operating kit. Here, once cart 2230 is moved out of the line ofcarts, cart 2232 can be moved over to a location adjacent cart 2228 andan automatic reassociation can occur so that the projector in cart 2232is associated with the fifth and sixth thumbnail icons in area 1302 (seeagain FIG. 50). Because only six images would be displayed via the kitprojectors instead of the original eight, the representation area 1302in FIG. 50 would be reduced to a size including six icons.

One other way to track and generate an inventory list ofpodium/projectors in space 2200 is to provide ID tags on each resourceand provide a sensor system at each entry (e.g., 2204) into space 2200.Referring again to FIG. 78, an exemplary wireless sensor 2201 isprovided proximate entry 2204 for sensing resource tags. Although notillustrated, sensor 2201 is linked to a server that tracks resourcelocations. In at least some embodiments, the tags may be RF ID tags andsensor 2201 may be an RF ID sensor. In this regard, see again FIG. 81where an exemplary RF ID tag 2281 is shown mounted to the externalsurface of the side wall 2242 of cart 2226. Here, when cart 2226 passesthrough entry 2204, sensor 2201 collects identification information fromtag 2281 and the inventory server adds the projector in cart 2226 to theinventory list for space 2200. When cart 2226 is removed from space2200, the inventory server removes the projector in cart 2226 from theinventory list. Tags 2281 may be passive or active (e.g., able totransmit as in the case of RF ID tags).

In some spaces (e.g., 2206), because of space layout, it may be thatprojectors are always to be used to project on a single wall. Here,referring again to FIG. 78, another inventory type system may provide RFID tags (e.g., 2297) or the like on an undersurface of each cart orproximate a lower end of the cart and separate RF ID sensors (e.g.,2299) may be mounted in the floor proximate the locations at which theprojector carts are typically located. In this case, when a cart islocated proximate a sensor, the sensor may obtain ID information fromthe tag and a server linked to the sensors may automatically associatethe cart and projector therein with the location within space 2200.

Referring now to FIG. 84, an exemplary method 2240 performed using thekit system 2202 described above is illustrated. At block 2442, themaster presentation unit or podium 2224 that includes I/O tablet 2294 ismoved into conference space 2200. At block 2444, a processor isassociated with the master presentation unit. Here, where a server 2286is mounted within the podium assembly 2224 as shown in FIG. 82, theserver processor is already provided. In other cases where a server isseparate from the podium assembly, the step of providing a processor mayrequire linking of the I/O tablet 2294 to the server.

Referring still to FIGS. 78 and 84, at block 2446, a plurality ofportable projector carts (e.g., 2226, 2228, 2230 and 2232) are movedinto conference space 2200. At block 2448, some process is performed toassociate the podium assembly and server associated therewith with atleast two of the portable projectors. Any of the associating processesdescribed above may be used here. At block 2450, after the podiumassembly 2224 and carts are associated, a presentation and conferencingsession can commence wherein an image is accessed by the podium user viathe display screen on the I/O tablet 2294. In addition, referring onceagain to FIG. 50, a control interface including the illustrated tool baror another tool bar having similar functionality is provided via the I/Otablet 2294. At block 2454, the tablet PC user designates one of theprojectors to receive and display the image currently on the tabledisplay, the image is transmitted to the designated projector viatransceiver 2231 and the transceiver (e.g., 2240) associated with thedesignated projector and the designated projector projects the imageinto the appropriate presentation space (e.g., 2208, 2210, etc.). In thewireless case the projectors continue to project an image until anotherimage is received or a command is received from the tablet to remove theimage from the presentation space.

Referring now to FIG. 85, a-sub-method 2500 that may be substituted forthe associating block 2448 in FIG. 84 is illustrated where, in additionto associating a server with specific projectors, the relativejuxtapositions of the projectors is used to associate the projectorswith specific thumbnail icon locations in a thumbnail representationarea like area 1302 in FIG. 50. Referring also to FIG. 84, after block2446, control may pass to block 2502 in FIG. 85 where informationregarding the projectors within space 2200 is wirelessly obtained viathe cart transceivers (e.g., 2240) and access points within the space2200. At block 2504, a list of the projectors within space 2200 isprovided to the tablet PC 2294 user. At block 2506, the user makes aselection of the projectors to be used during the session. At block2508, after the projectors to be employed have been selected from thelist, location information obtained from the access points is used todetermine a relative juxtaposition of the selected projectors withinspace 2200 and, more specifically, to determine which projector isclosest to the podium 2224, which projector is second closest, which isthird closest and which projector is farthest away from the podium. Atblock 2510, the selected projectors are associated with the presentationserver 2286 and each projector is associated with specific thumbnaillocations in the representation area 1302 (see again FIG. 50) of theinterface tool bar. After block 2510 control passes back to block 2250in FIG. 84.

Referring now to FIG. 86, a second projector based kit system 2202 awhich is similar to the kit system 2202 shown in FIG. 78 described aboveis illustrated in conference space 2200. Kit 2202 a includes a podiumassembly 2224 a, four projector carts 2226 a, 2228 a, 2230 a and 2232 aand a hardware network 2310 for linking the server in podium assembly2224 a to each of the projector carts 2226 a, 2228 a, 2230 a and 2232 a.In this regard, the hardwire network 2310 may be embedded in the floorof space 2200 or may be placed under the floor in the case of a raisedfloor space.

Referring still to FIG. 86, except for the way in which the serverinside podium 2224 a links with the projectors in the projector cartsand the way in which the podium and cart components receive power,podium assembly 2224 a is similar in construction and operation topodium assembly 2224 described above and the carts illustrated in FIG.86 are similar to the carts illustrated in FIG. 78 and that aredescribed above.

Referring once again to FIG. 86 and also to FIG. 87, to facilitatehardwired linkage between podium assembly 2224 a and each of the carts2226 a, 2228 a, 2230 a and 2232 a, podium assembly 2224 a includes apower/data/video port 2263 mounted within one of the lateral side wallsnear a bottom edge of that wall and each of the carts includes apower/data/video port (see 2326 in FIG. 87) mounted in one of thelateral side walls near a lower edge.

Referring still to FIGS. 86 and 87 and now also to FIG. 88, the network2310 includes power, data and video cable lines 2390 where each lineincludes separate data and video cables (e.g., CAT 5) 2392, 2394,respectively, that terminate with typical data connectors 2398 and 2400,respectively, and a power cable 2396 that includes a female power plug2402. The terminating end of cable 2390 illustrated in FIG. 88 will bereferred to herein as a power/data/video terminator. As shown in FIG.86, a separate power/data terminator is provided for each of the podiumassembly 2224 a and the carts 2226 a through 2232 a proximate locationsat which each of the podium assembly 2224 a and each of the carts wouldideally be used within space 2200 (e.g., proximate wall 2206). Toconceal the terminators when the podium assembly and carts are not beingused within space 2200, as shown in FIG. 86 and also in FIG. 87, a floorbox 2332 may be provided for each termination assembly where the boxincludes a cover 2338.

Referring still to FIG. 86, in this embodiment, after podium assembly2224 a and the carts 2226 a through 2232 a are moved into space 2200,the podium assembly 2224 a and carts are positioned adjacent the floorboxes and are linked as illustrated. Here, once the podium server 2286is powered, the server 2286 can poll the network to identify theconfiguration of projectors linked to the network 2310 (i.e., the servercan determine which projectors are linked and the positions of theprojectors) and association can be performed automatically prior tocommencing a presentation.

Referring now to FIGS. 89 and 90, a third projector based kit system2202 b is shown that includes a podium assembly 2224 b and fourprojector carts 2226 b, 2228 b, 2230 and 2232 b. Here, the podiumassembly and carts are similar to the podium and carts described abovewith respect to FIGS. 79 through 82, the primary differences being howthe podium and carts are linked for communication and power. In thiscase, podium assembly 2224 b includes a power/data/video port 2350 thatis similar to the power/data/video port described above with respect toFIG. 87.

Each of the projector carts is similarly constructed and operates in asimilar fashion and therefore, in the interest of simplifying thisexplanation, only cart 2226 b will be described here in detail.

Cart 2226 b includes a cart power/data/video network that includes firstand second power/data/video splitters 2356 and 2372, respectively, andpower/data/video cables 2368 that link the splitters 2356 and 2372. Thesplitters 2365 and 2372 are mounted in opposite ones of the lateral sidewall members of cart 2226 b. Each of the splitters 2356 and 2372 issimilarly constructed and operates in a similar fashion and therefore,in the interest of simplifying this explanation, only splitter 2356 willbe described here in detail.

Splitter 2356, as the label implies, includes a single externalpower/data/video port arrangement including power/data/video ports 2358as shown in FIG. 87 that are flush with an external surface of thelateral wall member in which the splitter 2356 is mounted. Inside thecart, splitter 2356 includes first and second power/data/video portarrangements 2360 and 2364, each of which is linked to port arrangement2358 so that data, power and video from arrangement 2358 can be providedto each of the split arrangements 2360 and 2364. The projector in cart2226 b may be linked to either of the internal arrangements 2360 or 2364and the other of the arrangements 2360 or 2364 is linked to a similarpower/data/video port arrangement 2361 associated with splitter 2372.

Referring still to FIGS. 89 and 90, jumpers or jumper cables areprovided that can be used to link adjacent carts or to link the podiumassembly 2224 b to an adjacent cart to provide a power/data/videonetwork between the podium and associated carts. In FIGS. 89 and 90, onejumper cable 2366 is shown linking the port 2263 of podium assembly 2224b to cart 2226 b via the external arrangement 2358 of splitter 2356.Similarly, a jumper cable 2380 links second splitter 2372 of cart 2226 bto the first splitter (not labeled) of adjacent cart 2228 b, anotherjumper cable 2382 links splitters in adjacent carts 2228 b and 2230 band one other jumper cable 2384 links splitters in adjacent carts 2230 band 2232 b. The second splitter 2386 of cart 232 b is not linked toanother cart, but could be linked to another cart if a fifth cart wereto be added to the kit system 2202 b or if cart 2232 b were swapped withone of the other carts illustrated in FIGS. 89 and 90.

Referring now to FIG. 91, an exemplary jumper cable assembly 2380 isillustrated which includes power/data/video terminators 2233 and 2235that are akin to the terminators described above with respect to FIG.88. In addition to the terminators, jumper cable assembly 2380 alsoincludes a braided/twisted cable 2412 that includes mechanical clasps orconnectors 2416 and 2416 at opposite ends. Referring once again to FIG.87, in this embodiment, an eyelet 2237 is mounted adjacent the externalsplitter receptacle 2358 on each lateral side wall of each cart. Theclasps 2414 and 2416 are designed to lock to the eyelets 2237 adjacentthe splitter receptacles so that as one of the carts is moved, anothercart connected thereto by the jumper cable assembly 2380 is pulled alongby the braided cable 2412 in a train like fashion. The cable 2412 may beshorter than the power/data/video cables so that, as connected carts aremoved, the power/data/video linkages are not pulled apart which coulddamage connectors/plugs.

Referring now to FIG. 92, one additional exemplary jumper cable assembly2380 a is shown. Assembly 2380 a is similar to the assembly 2380 in FIG.91, the primary difference being that the power/data/video terminatorsat each end of the cable includes only a single power/data/video pluginstead of three connectors (e.g., see plugs 2420 and 2422).

At this point, it should be appreciated that any of the kit systemsillustrated in FIGS. 78, 86 and 89 and described above is particularlyuseful in that projectors that can be separately used for singleprojector presentations can be cobbled together relatively quickly andefficiently to form a kit system for displaying multiple images and formanipulating those images in various ways. In addition, it should beappreciated that the kits described above may be used with fewer orgreater numbers of projector where larger numbers of projectors resultin enhanced presentations.

In addition to using a braided cable or the like to mechanically linkadjacent carts together to form a “cart train”, other types ofmechanical linkages are contemplated. For instance, referring to FIG.93, each projector cart may include mechanical clasps such as clasps2260 and 2262 that cooperate with clasps on adjacent carts to rigidlysecure adjacent carts together with very little, if any, spacetherebetween so that when one cart is moved, the others followprecisely. Other more complex clasping mechanisms are contemplated.Where carts are connected in an immediately adjacent fashion via claspsor the like, power/data/video linkages may be formed via the clasps orother mechanical connectors automatically or other dedicated networkforming connectors akin to the jumper cables described above may beemployed.

Referring now to FIG. 94, a subprocess 2456 that may be substituted forthe associating block 2448 in FIG. 84 is shown that is useful whenhardware communication and power cables are required to link projectorswith a presentation server. Referring also to FIG. 84, after block 2448,control passes to block 2458 in FIG. 94 where a system user mechanicallylinks the podium to the projectors in one of the fashions describedabove with respect to either of FIG. 86 or 89. At block 2460, the serverprocessor polls the network to identify the number of projectors linkedthereto and a logical location of the projectors on the network. Atblock 2462, the server processor provides an interface display screenvia the tablet PC associated with the podium to enable control of imagespresented by each of the linked projectors using the I/O tablet. Afterblock 2462, control passes back to block 2450 in FIG. 84.

While the invention may be susceptible to various modifications andalternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way ofexample in the drawings and have been described in detail herein.However, it should be understood that the invention is not intended tobe limited to the particular forms disclosed. For example, referringagain to FIG. 82, I/O tablet 2294 may be useable in either a portrait orlandscape mode similar to the easel display screen described above withsupport to FIGS. 42 and 43 where the tablet image orientation rotates by90° between the modes. In some cases a user may need to manually selecta mode selection icon (see icon 1112 in FIG. 35) to change betweenportrait and landscape modes. In at least some embodiments the tablet2294 may be mounted for rotation between landscape and portraitorientations and when the tablet 2294 is reoriented, the reorientationmay be sensed (e.g., via a mechanical switch) and the image presentedmay be automatically switched to the appropriate mode as described abovewith respect to FIGS. 42 and 43. Referring again to FIG. 78 where eachprojector projects two landscape images (e.g., images 1 i and 12 i),when the table 2294 (see FIG. 82) is rotated to the landscapeorientation in at least some embodiments it is contemplated that theprojectors would each switch to projecting a single landscape image inthe place of the two portrait images.

While an exemplary system is described above with respect to FIG. 31 andother figures that includes two subsystems 900 and 901 that are linkedtogether, it should be appreciated that, in at least some inventiveembodiments, only one of the subsystems may be required. Similarly,while an embodiment is described above that includes one or morepersonal interface devices 911, 913, 195, etc., that are linked to othersystem components, in at least some embodiments, interface devices likedevice 911 may not be linked.

In addition, in at least some embodiments, it is contemplated that amaster unit user will be able to select where on the master unit thedisplay screen tool area or areas will be provided. For example, in atleast some cases, a master unit user will be able to select a button(not illustrated) near the lower end of master unit display screencausing the tool areas to be reoriented near the bottom of the displayscreen so that a person in a wheelchair can easily reach the tools.

Moreover, while a system is described above that includes a printer 2284and that may also include a scanner (see 2295 in FIG. 83) mounted withina portable podium cabinet (see FIG. 82), in at least some embodiments aseparate portable cart may be provided for the printer and/or thescanner. Here, the printer/scanner cart may be linkable to the othersystem resources and more specifically to the conferencing server 2286either wirelessly (i.e., the cart may include a transceiver liketransceiver 2240 in FIG. 81) or via power and data cables (e.g., seeFIG. 88). In addition, or in the case of the projector carts above, theprinter/scanner cart may be associable with the conferencing server 2286in any of the ways described above that is suitable for the type (e.g.,wireless or cabled) of network used to link the system resources.

Furthermore, while the mobile carts are described above in the contextof systems that include podiums, in some embodiments the carts may beused with portable easel type master presentation units like the unitdescribed above with respect to FIG. 24. In addition, each cart may alsobe used independently to facilitate projection functions or indeedwithout a master unit but with other projector carts to facilitatemultiple projector presentations. Thus, a PC or the like may be usedwith multiple wireless or cable networked carts to facilitate apresentation.

In addition, while data and video may be transferred between resourceswirelessly it may be that some systems include cable power connectorsfor providing power to each projector cart, printer/scanner cart, podiumassembly and/or portable easel as batteries may not be practical givenpower consumption requirements of conventional equipment.

Thus, in the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents andalternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention asdescribed by the following claims. To apprise the public of the scope ofthis invention, the following claims are made.

1. A method for configuring presentation units for cooperativeactivities, the method comprising the steps of: providing a masterpresentation unit including a display and at least one input device in aconference space; providing a processor associated with the masterpresentation unit; moving a plurality of portable projectors within theconference space; associating the master presentation unit with at leasta subset of the projectors within the conference space wherein theassociated subset of projectors includes at least two projectors;presenting an image via the master presentation unit display; providinga control interface via the master presentation unit display fordesignating any one of the projectors from the associated subset thatshould display the image presented via the master presentation unit; andwhen a projector is designated to display the image from the masterpresentation unit, using the designated projector to project the imagefrom the master presentation unit onto a presentation space within theconference space; wherein the step of associating the masterpresentation unit with a subset of the projectors includes presenting alist of the projectors via the master presentation unit display andreceiving selections designating the subset of projectors via the masterpresentation unit input device.
 2. The method of claim 1 furtherincluding the step of providing a sensor system for determining whichprojectors are in the conference space.
 3. The system of claim 2 whereineach of the projectors includes an identification tag and wherein thesensor system includes at least a first tag reader for reading theidentification tag.
 4. The system of claim 3 wherein the ID tag is an RFID tag and the sensor is an RF sensor.
 5. The method of claim 1 whereinthe step of providing a plurality of projectors in the conference spaceincludes providing projectors that each include a wireless transmitter,the step of associating further includes the step of causing theprojectors in the space to transmit unique projector identifiers to themaster presentation unit, the step of presenting a list includingpresenting a list including a separate entry for each of the uniqueprojector identifiers received by the master presentation unit.
 6. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the step of moving a plurality of projectorunits into the conference space includes providing each projector uniton a separate projector cart wherein each cart includes wheels tofacilitate transport of the projector and moving the carts andprojectors into the conference space.
 7. The method of claim 6 whereinthe step of associating the master presentation unit with a subset ofthe projectors includes mechanically linking each of the carts to themaster presentation unit.
 8. The method of claim 7 wherein the step ofmoving the carts includes arranging the carts in a side-by-side fashionand wherein the step of mechanically linking includes connectingcommunication cables between the master presentation unit and theprojectors.
 9. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of mechanicallylinking further includes connecting power cables between the materpresentation unit and the projectors.
 10. The method of claim 6 furtherincluding the steps of arranging the carts associated with theassociated subset of projectors in a side-by-side fashion andmechanically linking adjacent carts to form a cart chain for transport.11. A method for configuring presentation units for cooperativeactivities, the method comprising the steps of: providing a masterpresentation unit including a display and at least one input device in aconference space; providing a processor associated with the masterpresentation unit; moving a plurality of portable projectors within theconference space; associating the master presentation unit with at leasta subset of the projectors within the conference space wherein theassociated subset of proiectors includes at least two projectors:presenting an image via the master presentation unit display; providinga control interface via the master presentation unit display fordesignating any one of the proiectors from the associated subset thatshould display the image presented via the master presentation unit; andwhen a projector is designated to display the image from the masterpresentation unit, using the designated projector to project the imagefrom the master presentation unit onto a presentation space within theconference space; wherein each of the projectors projects at least firstand second images onto at least first and second presentation spaces,respectively, and wherein the step of providing a control interfaceincludes providing an interface that facilitates designation of any ofthe first and second presentation spaces associated with any of theprojectors.
 12. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of providing acontrol interface includes providing an interface that enablesdesignation of any of the images presented by any of the projectors tobe represented by the master presentation unit via the masterpresentation unit display.
 13. The method of claim 11 further includingthe step of providing a sensor system for determining which projectorsare in the conference space.
 14. The system of claim 13 wherein each ofthe projectors includes an identification tag and wherein the sensorsystem includes at least a first tag reader for reading theidentification tag.
 15. The system of claim 14 wherein the ID tag is anRF ID tag and the sensor is an RF sensor.
 16. The method of claim 11wherein the step of providing a plurality of projectors in theconference space includes providing projectors that each include awireless transmitter, the step of associating further includes the stepof causing the projectors in the space to transmit unique projectoridentifiers to the master presentation unit, the step of presenting alist including presenting a list including a separate entry for each ofthe unique projector identifiers received by the master presentationunit.
 17. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of moving a pluralityof projector units into the conference space includes providing eachprojector unit on a separate projector cart wherein each cart includeswheels to facilitate transport of the projector and moving the carts andprojectors into the conference space.
 18. The method of claim 17 whereinthe step of associating the master presentation unit with a subset ofthe projectors includes mechanically linking each of the carts to themaster presentation unit.
 19. The method of claim 18 wherein the step ofmoving the carts includes arranging the carts in a side-by-side fashionand wherein the step of mechanically linking includes connectingcommunication cables between the master presentation unit and theprojectors.
 20. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of mechanicallylinking further includes connecting power cables between the materpresentation unit and the projectors.
 21. The method of claim 17 furtherincluding the steps of arranging the carts associated with theassociated subset of projectors in a side-by-side fashion andmechanically linking adjacent carts to form a cart chain for transport.22. An image presentation kit system for use with a substantiallyvertical member that forms a presentation surface and for use in aconference space including a floor member for supporting the carts, theassembly comprising: a master presentation unit including an inputdevice and a display screen; a processor associated with the masterunit; at least first and second portable projector carts that includewheels for moving the carts within a conference space, each cart alsoincluding a projector juxtaposed to project images onto the presentationsurface when the cart is positioned adjacent the presentation surface;and a network for linking the processor to each of the portableprojectors; wherein the network includes data cables mounted in thefloor.
 23. The system of claim 22 wherein the network is wireless. 24.The system of claim 22 wherein the data cables form a plurality ofspaced apart data ports in the floor for linking to the carts.
 25. Thesystem of claim 24 wherein each of the data ports includes a mechanicalconnector plug.
 26. The system of claim 22 wherein the network includesfirst data and second data ports mounted to the carts and jumper cablesthat extend between data ports of adjacent carts.